Migraines & headaches decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including TBI with vertigo, nausea and headaches, COPD, sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction (ED), and left hand disability are all denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's combined schedular evaluation is 100 percent from November 1, 1995. The Board has granted the Veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's representative has withdrawn the appeal regarding his claim for service connection for headaches, including as secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder and cervical spine disorder. However, upon review of the evidence, including VA examinations and private chiropractor opinions, the Veteran does not have a current disability of these conditions.,Service treatment records show no chronic back or neck problems during active duty. The Veteran's complaints were treated with chiropractic care while in service but she was found to be in good health at separation. Post-service evaluations by VA providers did not find any current disabilities of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and muscle contraction headaches, effective from November 2, 2012. The Veteran's disability was found to meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Veteran's sinusitis with headaches and bilateral hearing loss are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings, as they do not meet the criteria for increased disability under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing appropriate notice on secondary service connection theories.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations concerning his claimed conditions: allergies, chronic migraines due to head trauma, and a psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, which are claimed to be related to his service-connected disabilities including degenerative disk disease of the thoracic and cervical spine, is being remanded due to a lack of medical evidence addressing whether the Veteran's headache disability is related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were incurred in service and the Board finds that she is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining private hospital records and ensuring all available VA treatment records are included in the file.

The Veteran's migraines have resulted in prostrating attacks on average at least once a month, but do not result in very frequent or prolonged attacks that significantly impact his economic adaptability.

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral knee disability, cervical condition with neuropathy, headaches, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's previous claims were denied in October 1999, March 2006, and November 2006.,The Board is evaluating whether new evidence has been submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal for service connection for a left varicocele. The Board found that he had bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and psychiatric disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his migraine headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including GERD, headaches, hypertension, and esophageal ulceration) are sufficient to warrant a TDIU prior to October 4, 2013.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for migraines and granted it, finding that new evidence submitted since the January 1984 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Veteran's headaches worsened during service and were aggravated by service.,Service connection was also granted for left shoulder tendinopathy and adhesive capsulitis with pain and limitation of motion, as well as costochondritis (chest pain). These conditions are found to have begun during service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of headaches as moot due to a grant of service connection for traumatic brain injury. The claims for hearing loss and low back disorder with bilateral sciatica were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or the first post-service year.

The Board found that the Veteran's sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and migraine headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions pre-existed service and did not worsen during service.