Migraines & headaches decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated and rated appropriately based on the criteria provided in the Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and a skin condition were reopened, but the Board found new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. The Veteran's IBS was granted an initial rating of 30% prior to February 10, 2014, and in excess of 50% from that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including updated employment and educational history, VA treatment records, and a comprehensive examination to determine the severity of her service-connected disabilities and their impact on her employability.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for sinus disability, muscle and joint pain, trouble swallowing (GERD), and headaches. These issues are now remanded to allow for further development and consideration.

The Board is remanding the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current cognitive or neurological symptoms are related to his in-service head injury, and to identify any neuropsychological factors that may have developed.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for service connection and increased ratings in various conditions, with some issues resulting in new and material evidence being submitted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is seeking an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for post-traumatic headaches with migraine features prior to November 21, 2001. The case has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's symptoms prior to that date were migraines warranting a higher rating or purely subjective complaints.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and ensuring proper notification of attempts to obtain records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for cluster headaches remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development as it pertains to service connection claims for headaches, a right knee injury, hearing loss disability, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, and his Factor V Leiden Thrombophilia status post SSST is rated at 10 percent on a schedular basis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, PTSD, chronic pain disorder, and other neurological disorders. The decision is based on the lack of evidence supporting a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disorders. The Veteran's hyperthyroidism, sleep apnea, migraine headaches, right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, right foot disorder, myopia, swelling of the left testicle, and tinea versicolor are all found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, and increased rating have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that any of his claimed conditions are related to military service or due to VA care.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed residuals of a head injury with brain trauma are not related to service and denied his claim. The issue of PTSD is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at 30 percent since the initial filing of her claim, but a higher rating is denied for the entirety of the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for erectile dysfunction and tension headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the effective date of July 1, 2011 for the removal of dependent step-child M.A.H., due to marriage is dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for service-connected migraine headaches is granted, with the effective date set at October 1, 2005.

The Board finds that the Veteran's headaches, currently diagnosed as migraines, were incurred in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, post-traumatic headaches, and TBI are directly related to his active service and existed when the informal claim was received by VA. Effective date of September 10, 2009, for the grant of service connection.