Migraines & headaches decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his migraine and vascular headaches is being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's skin disability is granted service connection, and a 30 percent rating for his headaches has been awarded. The issue of TDIU remains on appeal.

The Veteran's current migraine headaches are presumed to have been incurred during his active service. The Board finds that the Veteran has a continuity of symptomatology since service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current headache disability and whether it is related to his service-connected back disability or PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for the issues of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral leg condition, carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, insomnia/sleep disturbances, left ankle condition, migraine headaches, and ovarian cysts.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder, chronic headaches, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left hip disorder, and left hip scar have been granted.,Service connection has also been established for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability and entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for a burn scar of the right forearm. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches did not have their onset during service and are not otherwise related to active duty. The Board also determined that the Veteran's headaches are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and a neck disability, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-service existence or aggravation during service. The Board also found insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between her current disabilities and service.

The Board found no chronic identifiable neurologic disorder in service and denied the claim for service connection due to lack of a link between current symptoms and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current migraine headache disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service.,Service connection for a stroke, including all neurovascular complications, is addressed separately and remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current headache/migraine condition is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his current disability levels.

The Veteran's current respiratory disorder, including asthma and bronchitis, is found to have been incurred in service. The Veteran's migraine headaches are also found to be related to her military service.

The Veteran's headaches are service-connected, and the other conditions have not been linked to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be related to his service-connected GAD/depression. Service connection for GAD/depression is granted with an effective date of June 22, 2007, and a rating of 50 percent. The right knee disability is rated as 20 percent from the initial grant of service connection on June 21, 2012, to January 31, 2014, and as 70 percent beginning February 1, 2014. Service connection for GAD/depression is granted with an effective date of February 1, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and a heart disability including sinus bradycardia, as well as an increased rating for asthma. The Veteran's current disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA's schedular guidelines.

The Veteran's disability compensation was restored, and the overpayment of severance pay is being recouped through monthly deductions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy, left ear hearing loss, increased ratings for right upper extremity radiculopathy and PTSD, as well as compensable ratings for tension headaches and right ear hearing loss due to procedural reasons.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches due to a brain concussion have been manifested by infrequent non-prostrating, non-migraine headaches. The Board found that the current rating of 10 percent for headaches is appropriate.