Migraines & headaches decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as a presumptively related undiagnosed illness due to service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, including Kuwait. The claims for fatigue and headaches have been reopened.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a TMJ disability and granted service connection for a right ear residual scar secondary to her service-connected right ear disability. The issues of service connection for headaches, right eye twitching, and right ear infections remain on appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's neck disorder, but the status of his left shoulder disorder remains unknown.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including those related to Agent Orange exposure, were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in many of the claimed conditions and did not find a link between any condition and active military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of headaches, and the Board finds that his reported history of headaches is not credible. Therefore, service connection for headaches cannot be granted.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with hypertension but there is no evidence linking this condition to his military service. As such, service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn. The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right testicular/groin disability, right leg disability, or lumbosacral spine disability. Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have begun during military service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for headaches and asbestosis, but finds that these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's service-connected cold weather residuals of the left and right lower extremities are rated at 30 percent each, effective August 17, 2010 to April 11, 2012. Effective April 11, 2012, her migraines are rated at 50 percent.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal was reopened and service connection for a cervical spine disorder, headaches, bilateral great toe disorders, and TBI were granted. The Veteran also had his disability rating restored to 40 percent for the back disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition during the period on appeal.,Service connection for a disability manifested by frequent urination is denied because there is no current evidence showing such a condition during or in close proximity to the period on appeal.,Erectile dysfunction was not service connected due to lack of an in-service disease or injury and absence of a nexus between the condition and service. The Veteran's back surgery occurred 28 years after discharge from service.,Service connection for a skin disability is denied as there is no current evidence showing such a condition during or in close proximity to the period on appeal.,The claim for service connection for headaches was denied because there is no current evidence showing such a condition during or in close proximity to the period on appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus, headaches, lower back disability, and depression are all service-connected.,Right upper extremity radiculopathy is rated at 50 percent, while hypothyroidism remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left ear hearing loss, hypertension, infertility, insomnia, vertigo, and migraines. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorder.,The Board also denied service connection for organic brain disability (previously claimed as Alzheimer's dementia), to include as secondary to service-connected sebaceous cyst.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability as secondary to his service-connected hypertension or hypertension medication, finding no evidence that the headaches were caused by or aggravated by these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches had their onset during service and are etiologically related to service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with headaches that began in service and tinnitus linked to acoustic trauma during service. The Board finds these conditions are related to his military service.,The Veteran reported symptoms of sleep apnea since 1995, coinciding with his service period. A VA physician opined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is likely due to in-service exposure.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by her representative, resulting in the dismissal of the case.