Migraines & headaches decisions — 2016

The Board found that the Veteran's migraine headaches are not related to his period of service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for direct service connection. The Board also did not find sufficient evidence to support secondary service connection based on his psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI and related conditions are service-connected, with no effective date provided as the decision is still pending.

The Veteran's back disability (other than cervical myositis) is not related to service or a service-connected disability. The Veteran's headache disability has not been linked to his service-connected cervical myositis.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied service connection for dizziness. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for other conditions are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran is granted service connection for residuals of a left fourth finger fracture, but his claims for pulmonary disability and headaches are denied as not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, hypertension, and congestive heart failure due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, dizziness, and a sinus disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and development of records, including SSA disability benefits information. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, headache, and right knee disabilities are in dispute.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches associated with the Veteran's TBI, finding that there is a current diagnosis and a link to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his thoracolumbar spine disability, headaches, and TDIU.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for headaches and a sinus disorder, as well as a bilateral foot disorder and left wrist laceration residuals. The Board has remanded these matters due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran seeks service connection for a sinus disorder that he contends began in service and is related to his sleep apnea. The Board also needs further evidence regarding this claim, including private treatment records and VA examination results.,The Veteran claims service connection for bilateral foot disorders, which he asserts have been present since service. He also contends the left wrist laceration residuals are related to his in-service injury. These matters require additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on etiology and severity of these conditions.,The Veteran seeks an initial compensable rating for a service-connected left wrist laceration with scar. The Board has directed further development regarding this matter as well.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, hearing loss disability, and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran did not have a diagnosed concussion from his head injury or current post-concussive headaches. His current migraines are attributed to sinus congestion during service. He does not meet VA criteria for a hearing loss disability. The Board found no causal relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and issuing a Statement of the Case on his claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance. The PTSD increased rating claim will also be readjudicated.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for upper back disability is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for lumbar disk syndrome with lumbar spondylosis and cervical spondylosis/sprain. The Veteran's chronic sinusitis and associated headaches are found to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected post-traumatic headache syndrome with blanking-out episodes does not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the appellant's service dates and obtain relevant medical records, particularly those from Maxwell Air Force Base Hospital. The claims for service connection will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and left shoulder impingement have been denied. The maximum schedular rating of 50 percent has been assigned for migraine headaches since January 6, 2014, and the maximum schedular rating of 20 percent has been assigned for left shoulder impingement since January 6, 2014.

The VA determined that the Veteran does not have current residuals of a TBI and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's TBI residuals, primarily consisting of subjective symptoms such as headaches, are rated at 10 percent due to their mild and infrequent nature. The Board found the evidence insufficient to support a higher rating.