Migraines & headaches decisions — 2017

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including insomnia and depression, is related to his service-connected degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, joint pain, muscle cramps, and a skin disability is granted. The claims for irritable bowel syndrome, memory loss, and bilateral hand disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment as of December 27, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of all claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as she withdrew her claim for service connection for depression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, cervical spine stenosis, and migraine headaches have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches, right and left great toe degenerative joint disease have been denied as the evidence does not show that his symptoms more nearly approximate a higher rating.

The Board denied a disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected cluster headaches on an extraschedular basis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are adequately contemplated by the schedular rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of diabetes mellitus, type II; TBI; or a headache disability. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches and anxiety disorder have been granted increased ratings, with the headache rating now at 30 percent effective from June 17, 2017. The initial rating for anxiety disorder and adjustment disorder has also been increased to 50 percent effective from January 11, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected tension vascular headaches (claimed as migraine headaches) is being remanded due to the failure to report for scheduled examinations. The AOJ will obtain updated medical records and arrange for a neurological examination.

The Veteran's chronic cluster headaches are currently rated at 50% effective from February 3, 2017. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted prior to this date and grants the increased rating claim. For TDIU, the Veteran has provided evidence of his disability preventing him from working since July 2009, which is within one year of his initial claim. Therefore, the effective date for TDIU is also granted as November 2010.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, and there is no evidence that warrants an extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, right lower extremity radiculopathy, chronic lumbar strain with mild disc disease, migraines, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of July 27, 2015.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding service connection for right bundle branch block, headaches, bilateral leg disorder (leg cramps), and degenerative bone disease (low back disorder).

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date earlier than February 11, 2014, for the grant of a 10 percent evaluation for service-connected TBI residuals has been dismissed due to it being equivalent to a previously denied issue. The Board does not have jurisdiction over this matter.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic sinus disorder, headache disorder, or constipation and hemorrhoids related to service. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of headaches, left leg disability (residuals of broken fibular), left ankle disability, or rectal fissures. The preponderance of evidence is against service connection for all four conditions.

The Veteran's headaches are not related to his service, but he has bilateral hearing loss that is related to his active service.