Migraines & headaches decisions — 2016

The Board finds that the Veteran's migraine headaches are productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and providing an updated VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, development of records, and consideration under certain legal provisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches. The decision is final as it was not appealed within the time frame.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen her claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus and a left knee disability. She is also granted service connection for bilateral pes planus on an aggravation basis and for tinnitus.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for service-connected headaches, effective October 7, 2015. The Veteran's headaches have been manifested by characteristic prostrating attacks averaging once per month since that date.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals, including those for increased ratings and service connection claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder and headaches, as new and material evidence was received. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal seeking a rating in excess of 50 percent for anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified (mixed anxiety depressive disorder).

The Veteran's overall headache disability has been manifested by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disability and granted entitlement to this condition. The Veteran's current diagnoses include osteoarthritis in his right leg, left knee, hips, and headaches, all presumed secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's migraines have been productive of severe economic inadaptability since April 17, 2009 and he has been unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since December 19, 2014.

The Veteran's skin disorder and headaches were denied service connection as there was no evidence of a nexus to his military service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The Board found that the medical opinions did not support a link between current conditions and service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating of 50 percent is warranted due to his symptoms.,The Veteran's status post head concussion with post-concussion syndrome and headaches are currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating of 40 percent is warranted based on the severity of his condition.,The Veteran's mixed headache disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of septorhinoplasty including disfigurement of the nose is being remanded due to unclear service connection and development of symptoms related to sinusitis and headaches.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's TBI residuals and obtain updated medical records. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records from specific time periods and employment records.

The Veteran's cluster headaches have been rated at 30 percent prior to August 24, 2011 and increased to 50 percent effective from that date. The increase in rating is due to the severity of his symptoms, including very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's headaches are related to his service-connected cervical DDD, and the Board has granted secondary service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disability prevents him from securing and maintaining employment.