Migraines & headaches decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, with the Board finding that his current PTSD is related to his active service. The cervical spine disability, left arm radiculopathy disability, and migraine headache disability claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation and service connection have been remanded.,His claims for reopening of service connection for migraine headaches and bilateral hearing loss were granted.

The Veteran's headaches were rated at 30 percent prior to October 15, 2013 and at 50 percent thereafter. The Board found that the Veteran met the criteria for a 50 percent rating from October 15, 2013 onwards.

The Board has determined that service connection for PFB is not warranted, and the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for generalized anxiety disorder and migraine headaches are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's tension headaches have been rated at 50 percent since April 3, 2015. The Board finds that the severity of his condition has varied over time and warrants staged ratings.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a neck condition with degenerative disc disease and headaches have been remanded due to the failure to appear at scheduled VA examinations. The case will be returned to the Board after further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA medical examinations and providing an opinion on the etiology of his tinnitus.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at 30 percent effective April 27, 2011. The bilateral intentional hand tremors are rated as noncompensable. The Veteran is granted TDIU.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated as 30 percent disabling from October 30, 2009.,Service connection for sleep apnea and diverticulitis is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the May 2012 VA examination and the need for a new examination. The Veteran's claim is also remanded because of the submission of lay statements regarding continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current chronic headache disorder is not causally or etiologically related to her service, and it was not caused by or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches has been granted. The TDIU issue remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and sleep apnea are currently before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The RO has denied these claims, but the Veteran requested a hearing at his local RO. The case is REMANDED to schedule this hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or an increase in disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches and facial scars (other than residual acne scars) were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's chronic migraine headaches, now rated at 50 percent, are found to be severe enough to cause very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The claim for an increased rating is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, stomach problems, vertigo (secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss), low back disability (secondary to bilateral pes planus), and migraine headaches. The Board found that there was no evidence of aggravation of pre-existing conditions during service or a direct relationship between service and the current disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, including examinations of his lower extremity numbness, leg pain, scar, and back disability. The AOJ will readjudicate the claims based on the updated evidence.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and is therefore dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection claim for gastroenteritis is denied as there is no objective evidence of a gastrointestinal disability during his period of active duty.,For the period prior to May 20, 2016, the Veteran's PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. For the period on or after May 20, 2016, the Veteran's service-connected PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.