Migraines & headaches decisions — 2016

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims for service connection for a left foot disorder, migraine headaches, a seizure disorder, and residuals of a jaw injury as well as higher ratings for a right shoulder disability and hearing loss.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a headache disability, to include chronic headaches and migraines. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for an updated opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's headaches.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current rating for ocular migraine syndrome does not adequately account for visual symptoms and potential interference with employment. The case is being referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and residuals of a traumatic brain injury due to procedural issues, including obtaining additional evidence and providing VCAA notice.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and migraine headaches, both of which are found to be related to his service. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met.,The Veteran is also service connected for right arm and hand numbness and flat feet, both of which are found to be related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was withdrawn. The claims for service connection for bilateral knee and elbow disabilities, as well as migraine headaches, secondary to service-connected conditions, have been denied due to lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left lower extremity sciatica and PTSD are being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spine spondylosis is being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome and headaches are being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected residuals of a traumatic brain injury is being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.,The reduction in rating for a right ankle disorder from 10 percent to a noncompensable rating was proper, and this portion of the appeal period is no longer before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were denied. Her claim for a higher rating for sinusitis with headaches was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from the December 2011 VA examiners regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's headaches are related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with TBI and traumatic encephalopathy, along with other nonservice-connected conditions, necessitates the need for regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board has determined that this meets the criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Board found that the Veteran's current headache disability was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not caused by his service-connected back and psychiatric disabilities. The medical opinions were against a causal relationship.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure of a scheduled VA examination for his service-connected headaches. The case will be returned to the Board for further consideration after appropriate development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for a headache disability and for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability. The claim for TDIU is also being deferred pending completion of the actions requested.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that equitable tolling and/or waiver of the time limit for perfecting an appeal were not met. The earliest pending claim was received on August 28, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed residuals of a head injury did not meet the criteria for service connection as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his in-service head injury, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an evaluation of 10 percent or higher for his hypertension. For the other claims, the evidence does not support a finding that any of the claimed conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current headache disorder is not related to his period of service and did not find sufficient evidence linking it to his hepatitis C disability. The claims for increased rating and TDIU were also denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and migraine headaches. The claim for migraine headaches was denied due to a lack of medical nexus between the claimed in-service headache episodes and current migraines.