Migraines & headaches decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck disability was not incurred in or related to service and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of an increased rating for tension and migraine headaches is pending.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are not related to service, and his low back and left knee disorders did not manifest within one year of discharge from service.,His current low back disorder is not linked to service or a service-connected condition. His left knee disorder was also not linked to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, left knee disability, and migraine headaches have been denied. The Board finds that there is no evidence of a current service-connected condition for hypertension or any other conditions related to the issues raised.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), headaches, depression, left upper extremity numbness, right upper extremity numbness, and transient ischemic attack. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these appeals.

The Board has granted service connection for a speech disorder, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected TBI. The case is remanded for further development and readjudication of other issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, migraine headaches, and primary insomnia have been granted. The right leg and left knee disability claims are being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not aggravated by his second period of active duty service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Veteran's migraine headache disorder was also not related to his military service.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for a headache disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety.,The decision is based on the reopening of the claim due to new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a comprehensive VA examination and reviewing all submitted evidence. The Veteran's claim for increased rating for headaches and TDIU remains before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for cervical degenerative disc disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, or headaches prior to December 6, 2013.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The Board also granted a TDIU rating.

The Board denied reopening of service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder and headaches due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's IBS is currently rated at 30 percent, the highest available rating under the schedular criteria. His headaches are rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches were manifested by characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month over the last several months, and the Board found that they most closely approximated the 30 percent level of disability under Diagnostic Code 8100. The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 30 percent for his service-connected tension headaches.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during treatment at the Southeast Georgia Health System Camden Campus on July 21, 2011 is denied because the condition was not a medical emergency and a VA facility was feasibly available.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as his employment is full-time and he has maintained it throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities were not caused by VA treatment on May 10, 2006. The Board finds no additional disability resulting from the care provided.

The Veteran is not entitled to a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for headaches as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete active duty service treatment records and the need for further examinations regarding each of the disabilities on appeal.

The Veteran's LUE disability, including gout and polyradiculopathy, was not service-connected.,However, the Veteran received separate ratings for his TBI-related headaches (30%), depressive disorder (50%), and tinnitus (10%).