Migraines & headaches decisions — 2017

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and remanded the issues of service connection for cervical muscle strain (also claimed neck injury), tinnitus, and headaches and dizziness.

The Veteran seeks service connection for residual scar and headaches. The case is being remanded to obtain her complete military personnel records, verify her active duty service, and obtain any private treatment records from Dr. W.P.

The Veteran's frequent and severe migraine headaches have been found to meet the criteria for a 50% disability evaluation since September 29, 2007.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and headache disorder. The Veteran did not have a current disability for VA purposes, and there was no clear and unmistakable evidence that his headaches preexisted service.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at a maximum of 50% since February 6, 2015.,An earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU prior to August 31, 2010 is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss disabilities are likely related to his military service, with aggravation due to pre-existing conditions. The headache disability is also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as her service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from obtaining and maintaining employment.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic disability resulting from the Veteran's in-service injury, and thus service connection for osteoarthritis of the right thumb cannot be granted. For his claimed migraine headaches, the Board finds that the weight of the competent evidence does not support entitlement to service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches and hand tremors are not related to his service, including any in-service injury or exposure. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and conducting a VA examination to assess the severity of his fracture of the left zygomatic arch. The issue remains whether he is entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment and personnel records from his Enlisted Reserve Corps service.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disorder, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and headaches are not due to his active duty service or any service-connected conditions. The evidence does not support a finding of exposure to herbicide agents, PTSD, or diabetes mellitus, type II as causes for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed headache disability is not related to service, including exposure to CS gas during basic training. The claim for service connection for headaches was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing. The issues of service connection for microvascular disease, headaches secondary to microvascular disease, degenerative bone loss in the upper and lower jaw bones, and sleep apnea are still pending.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 50 percent, which is the highest possible rating under Diagnostic Code 8100. The claim for service connection for an arthritic condition of the neck and back (palindromic arthritis) has been reopened but no new evidence was provided to establish a current disability. Service connection for depression has also been reopened with support from recent medical opinions indicating that her depression is related to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches have been rated at a 10 percent disability rating since the appeal period began. The Board found that his symptoms, while severe, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Veteran's service-connected organic brain syndrome, peripheral vestibular disorder, and headaches are rated at 70 percent combined as of December 9, 2011. The Board finds the Veteran unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due solely to his service-connected disabilities from December 9, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a traumatic brain injury with headaches and a neck disability are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.