Migraines & headaches decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically for a chest condition, headache disorder, or an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for hypertension and a headache disorder, as the evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a decision can be made regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial evaluations for various conditions, including PTSD, TBI residuals, migraine headaches, and hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines were characterized by frequent prostrating attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50% disability rating prior to May 6, 2015.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted. The Veteran has been experiencing recurrent tinnitus following in-service noise exposure and it is presumed related to his service-connected migraines.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and addressing whether his in-service injury was incurred in line of duty. The issues on appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which meets the criteria for a 70 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The Veteran also has thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity that are each rated at 10 percent. Tension headaches have been rated as noncompensable, but the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficiently severe to inhibit her ability to obtain gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

For the period from October 19, 2009 to August 25, 2015, the Veteran's migraine headaches were manifested by characteristic prostrating attacks occurring a few times per month. The Board found that this warranted a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) with residuals of chronic tension headaches.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the receipt of a request for withdrawal prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a headache disorder was granted, with the effective date being March 25, 2009. The Veteran also received a TDIU effective from March 25, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, lung cancer, hypertension, brain aneurysm, irregular heartbeat, headaches, and sleep disturbance are not supported by the evidence of record. The conditions have either no direct link to military service or do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and readjudication of the claims. The AOJ will consider all evidence received since the last Supplemental Statements of the Case (SSOC) in conjunction with prior evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and bilateral hearing loss were denied, while his claim for service connection for a neurocognitive disorder was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tingling/numbness of upper extremities, tingling/numbness of lower extremities, muscle tension headaches, aching joints, and hand tremors is granted. The effective date remains to be determined as the claim was previously denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric condition, back condition and migraine headaches was denied as the evidence did not establish that these conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's GERD has been rated as noncompensably (0 percent) disabling, but the Board has determined that a 30 percent disability rating is warranted.,The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated as noncompensably (0 percent) disabling, but the Board has determined that a 50 percent disability rating is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including gout, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, rhinitis, kidney disability (chronic renal failure and bilateral renal cysts), hypertension, cystitis, erectile dysfunction, and migraines. The appeals are now resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) after receiving additional pertinent evidence from a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the current severity of service-connected headache disorder and review of the claims for anxiety and depression with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, left breast gynecomastia, and shortness of breath.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's daughter was not permanently incapable of self-support prior to turning 18 years old, and thus does not meet the criteria for 'helpless child' benefits.