Migraines & headaches decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including opinions on the nature and etiology of his headaches, fatigue, drowsiness, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The TDIU claim will also be remanded as it may be affected by these decisions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an addendum opinion on her migraine headaches and consideration of a TDIU issue.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. Insomnia and headaches were not continuous or recurrent in service or since separation; tinnitus was not diagnosed within one year of separation from service; and there is no medical nexus between the current insomnia, headaches, or tinnitus and either active service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss. The preexisting left ear hearing loss at enlistment was not permanently worsened by active service.

The Veteran's GERD is causally related to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The Veteran's chronic headache disability may have pre-existed service, but the evidence does not clearly and unmistakably show that it was aggravated by service.

The Board granted a disability rating of 70 percent for the acquired psychiatric disability, effective from April 24, 2012. The Veteran's spasmodic torticollis was rated as noncompensable. TDIU was also granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's headaches did not develop during service and are not related to a service-connected disability. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of those related to urinary incontinence and residuals of TBI. The remaining conditions are found to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches have not produced prostrating attacks averaging once a month over the last several months, so his claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for TBI with residual headaches and light sensitivity is remanded. The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD was granted in the March 2017 decision, but has not been implemented yet.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches did not begin during service and are not related to military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including skin disease, right shoulder disorder, elbow disorder, low back disorder, knee disorders, left ankle disorder, foot disorders, pulmonary disorder, and heart disorder. The decision found that new evidence did not reopen the claim of skin disease, and that none of the other conditions were related to service or a pre-existing disability.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for headaches prior to September 24, 2011. The Veteran's headaches are characterized by moderate frequency and severity, with occasional missing work or leaving early due to the condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches was denied as he failed to report for VA examinations without good cause.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities was also denied, as his combined disability evaluation did not meet the minimum percentage requirements.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been rated at 30 percent since June 22, 2005. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder has been granted, resulting in a TDIU. His migraine headaches and esophageal tear remain unresolved issues.

The Veteran's asthma and migraine headaches are found to be secondary to his service-connected sinusitis and/or service-connected rhinitis, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of a higher rating for hypertension and service connection for chronic bronchitis have not been decided.

The Veteran is found unable to obtain and sustain a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected PTSD and headaches.

The Veteran's skin conditions of the feet, including calluses and tinea pedis (Athlete's foot), were not shown to be related to service. His allergies did not manifest during service or are otherwise linked to service. The Board finds that these conditions are not subject to service connection.