Migraines & headaches decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are necessary to assess the Veteran's claims for depression, migraine headaches, syncope, and hypertension. The appeal is REMANDED.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication of the appellant's claims, including those regarding service connection. The character of discharge issue is also being addressed.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right knee disability have been rated based on their severity, but the right knee has not met the criteria for a higher rating since October 10, 2014. The left shoulder and head trauma disabilities are also rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for headaches, thus denying the reopening of the claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were aggravated by his service, but not caused by it. The headache disability was pre-existing and increased in severity during service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for headaches, bilateral leg and knee disorders (including the knees), as secondary to her service-connected major depressive disorder and jaw disorder. The effective date of the grant is March 23, 2010.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was granted, with a rating of 30 percent effective November 4, 2009. The kidney condition claim is denied as there is no evidence that the benign cyst may be related to ionizing radiation exposure during service.

The Veteran's issues of extraschedular evaluations for pneumothorax and hypertension are dismissed as they have not been raised by the claimant or reasonably raised by the record.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his migraine headaches prior to May 1, 2014 was denied as the evidence did not show that he experienced characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevented her from securing and following any substantially gainful employment from October 1995 to March 14, 1997.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his right hip condition, right knee condition, status lost left eye abrasion, and migraine headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches and bruxism/ TMJ disorder manifested during his military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury with residual memory loss and headaches is granted, as the evidence supports a finding that his current symptoms are related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been rated at 10 percent prior to September 3, 2015, and at 30 percent thereafter. The appeal for a left shoulder disability is denied. A TDIU rating has been granted based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a headache disorder, vertigo, or right knee disorder in service and concluded that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and migraines are not shown to result in permanent disability, and the Board finds that the criteria for a permanent and total rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.340 for these conditions are not met.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining x-rays and providing a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been rated at 50 percent since February 4, 2015. For the period from April 24, 2008 to February 3, 2015, a higher rating of 50 percent is granted.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and issues, including service connection for various disorders. The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected migraine headaches.