Migraines & headaches decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the Veteran's employability. The case is now pending for further development and an appropriate opinion from a vocational expert.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as there is no credible evidence of a right or left shoulder injury during service, and the record does not contain probative evidence relating any currently diagnosed shoulder disorder to active service.,The Veteran's appeal is denied as there is no credible evidence of tinnitus during service or for many years thereafter. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that current tinnitus is related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, fatigue, and diabetes have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim. The Veteran's claim for service connection for undiagnosed Gulf War Syndrome is denied due to lack of a diagnosed disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a disability for which service connection is sought. As such, no service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and headaches secondary to PTSD with impaired sleep due to incomplete development of his service records, lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives, and inadequate medical opinions. The case is now returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is at least as likely as not related to an injury sustained during service, and the Board finds that all three elements necessary for service connection have been met.

The Board found that the reduction in rating for post head injury headaches from 30% to 10% effective May 1, 2012 was proper. The Veteran is now rated at 40% for post head injury headaches since February 27, 2017.

The Court has directed that the 10 percent disability rating assigned to the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis, to include sinus headaches and nosebleeds, be restored as of July 1, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition met or approximated the criteria for a higher evaluation.,Service connection for a thoracic spine disability was also denied as there was no evidence showing it was related to service, or caused by or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 50 percent rating for service-connected migraines, effective July 1, 2013.

The Veteran's low back disorder is not related to service, but her sinusitis and associated headaches are related to service.,Service connection for a low back disorder is denied. Service connection for sinusitis with associated sinus headaches is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches resulted in very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks causing severe economic inadaptability from August 9, 1972 to October 16, 2011. The Veteran is now entitled to a higher initial rating of 50 percent for his headache disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression and PTSD), hypertension, and headache disorder. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia, gastric ulcer, and gastritis is currently rated at 30 percent. The other issues remain unresolved.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae was granted. The claims for service connection for a skin condition to include tinea cruris, low back disability, and headaches remain pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals from head injury, equilibrium disorder, and migraine headaches cannot be granted as they are not related to his in-service head injury due to willful misconduct. The claims of secondary service connection have also been denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for migraine and tension headaches has been granted at a 50 percent level, effective from the date of claim. The right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of claim.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing notice regarding his PTSD claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches is granted. The claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability is denied.