Migraines & headaches decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation. The propriety of reducing the evaluation of his CAD from 60 percent to 30 percent is also addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic headaches, white phosphorous burns of the feet, and an unknown virus causing fatigue, canker sores, headaches, and low grade fever have been denied as there is no competent evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic headaches and acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his service-connected disabilities, granting these claims.

The Veteran seeks service connection for residuals of a head injury, including headaches. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology and onset of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for a heart murmur and migraine headaches have been dismissed. The case is remanded to consider her claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for upper respiratory disability, headaches, and lipoma at the left temple or its residuals due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Veteran's TBI with headaches and earaches was found to be manifested by moderate symptoms prior to October 23, 2008. From that date forward, the Veteran's TBI has been manifested by mild cognitive impairment without a diagnosis of a purely neurological disability such as hemiplegia or facial nerve paralysis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, to include as secondary to PTSD, should be remanded due to an unresolved issue regarding his PTSD claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and thus denied all of his service connection claims.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a diagnosed traumatic brain injury (TBI) in service and the Veteran's symptoms are better explained by other conditions such as migraines, tension headaches, and degenerative disc disease. Therefore, the claim for TBI was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and hypertension. The Veteran's CAD, erectile dysfunction, and headaches are found to be related to his hypertension.

The Board has granted staged ratings for the Veteran's tension headaches and denied a higher rating, as well as service connection for a sleep disorder. The Court remanded the case to provide an adequate statement of reasons or bases regarding the frequency of the appellant's headaches.

The Veteran's TBI residuals, including headaches and balance issues, were initially rated at 10 percent effective December 15, 2008. After March 22, 2011, the rating was increased to 10 percent but he is not entitled to a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and status post septoplasty with chronic sinusitis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's Migraine Headaches and Deviated Septum have been rated based on their individual merits. The Migraine Headaches are currently rated at 50% effective September 28, 2012, while the Deviated Septum is rated at 10%. These ratings reflect a mixed decision as some issues were granted (Migraine Headaches) and others not (Deviated Septum).

The Veteran's migraines are rated at the highest schedular rating of 50 percent, and he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at 30 percent since September 13, 2007. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to a higher initial rating of 50% for his headaches due to very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's appeal of the headache disorder claim has been dismissed as it was granted in a May 2016 rating decision. The PTSD and hypertension claims are remanded for issuance of a Statement of the Case.