Migraines & headaches decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the character of the Veteran's discharge from service is not a bar to receiving VA benefits, and thus he qualifies as a 'veteran' for purposes of VA benefits.

The Veteran's headaches are caused by his hypertension and service connection for this condition is granted. The remaining issues of service connection for thyroid disorder, left eye disability, and back disability are not addressed in the decision.

The VA examiner found no evidence of a headache disorder related to service, and concluded that the Veteran's headaches are not due to an undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye condition, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision found no current residual disability due to the in-service eye injury and ruled out causation of the Veteran's headaches by the in-service incident.,Service connection was not granted as secondary to any service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for urethroplasty residuals, to include excessive and frequent urination, chest pain, and a mood disorder NOS. The evidence showed that the Veteran had undergone a prior urethroplasty before entering service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder, and entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches are addressed. The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome rating remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Munroe Regional Medical Center on August 4, 2011 are granted as the treatment met the definition of 'emergency treatment' under VA regulations.

The Veteran's current headache disorder is related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for service-connected migraine headaches is granted, with a final effective date of the day following the decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound (s-1) rate effective February 4, 2010. The decision is based on the combined effects of multiple service-connected disabilities, with fibromyalgia being the single disability that renders the Veteran unemployable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraine headaches, thoracolumbar spine disability, and other conditions, render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a TDIU from January 12, 2005.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 30% for the entire rating period, and his left shoulder injury is rated at 10% effective September 1, 2011. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted prior to September 1, 2011.

The Veteran's headaches, as the residuals of a head injury during service, are granted as service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot disability and headache disability in March 1996 due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's CUE claims were not successful.

The Veteran's post traumatic headaches, residual of TBI, are rated at 30 percent prior to April 23, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied the reopening of a claim for headaches. The Veteran's headaches are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's urinary disorder, variously diagnosed as chronic non-specific urethritis; dysuria; prostatitis; and, benign prostatitis hypertrophy, had its onset during his period of active military service. The Board finds in favor of the Veteran on this claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's headaches are found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, PTSD, bruxism with lingual tori, and/or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment prior to December 15, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain service treatment records and medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.