Migraines & headaches decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to July 5, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and migraines are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted as service-connected. The left elbow, left shoulder, right ankle, and right knee disorders are denied due to lack of evidence linking them to service or a service-connected condition. The thoracolumbar spine disorder, testicular pain, chest pain (costochondritis), stomach pain, and headaches are also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches and GERD have been granted initial ratings, with the tension headaches receiving a rating of 30 percent effective January 13, 2016. The lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and left knee patellofemoral syndrome remain at their current assigned ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 14, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, degenerative joint/disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, chondromalacia of the knees, migraine headaches, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since September 12, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete examination reports and lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently service-connected, but the cervical spine disability and lumbar spine disability have not been established as service-connected.,Service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD) has been granted.

The Veteran's asthma was granted service connection and rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent.,Her chronic headaches were also granted service connection, with a current evaluation of 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to schedule a videoconference hearing. The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial evaluations are pending.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to an effective date prior to July 13, 2010, for service connection for migraine headaches.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to an effective date prior to July 13, 2010, for service connection for right shoulder strain.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to an effective date prior to March 10, 2010, for service connection for dry eye syndrome with bilateral pinguecula and chronic conjunctivitis (claimed as an eye condition, status post Lasik eye surgery).,The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of service connection for asthma (also claimed as shortness of breath).,The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of service connection for pes planus.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of service connection for temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of service connection for a liver condition, claimed as elevated enzymes and enlarged liver.

The Veteran's depressive disorder and migraine headaches are service-connected. The Board has also found that the Veteran does not have multiple sclerosis, a back disability, or a neck disability. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches are service-connected, but his TBI claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of TBI.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant's request for withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was granted service connection. Service connection for left elbow, left shoulder, right ankle, and right knee disorders were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability. Service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, testicular pain, chest pain (costochondritis), stomach pain, and headaches was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current headache disability, including migraine headaches. The medical evidence is unfavorable to this claim.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for headaches prior to July 21, 2014 is denied.,For the period on and after July 21, 2014, an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for headaches is denied.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for left and right plantar fasciitis separately is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's disease, neck disability, and headaches was denied. The Board found that there is no current evidence of these conditions in the record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining VA examinations to address the etiology and nature of his microvascular disease, headaches, degenerative bone loss in the upper and lower jaw bones, and sleep apnea.