Migraines & headaches decisions — 2017

The Veteran is precluded from substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and hypothyroidism. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether he is entitled to TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability, and the Board found that the Veteran did not provide good cause for failing to report for VA examinations. The claims for PTSD and migraine headaches are denied due to failure to report for VA examination without good cause.

The Board found that the Veteran's need for aid and attendance was not due to his service-connected disabilities, but rather due to nonservice-connected conditions. Therefore, SMC based upon the need for aid and attendance and/or housebound status is denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for residuals of a right ankle sprain and residuals of a coccyx contusion, granted service connection for a skin disorder (psoriasis and dermatitis), and remanded the issues of service connection for a sleep disorder, a disorder manifested by blackouts, a disorder manifested by dizziness, an eye disorder, residuals of a right ankle sprain, residuals of a right great toe injury, and residuals of a coccyx contusion for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression. The Veteran's diagnosed depression was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,Service connection for hypertension has not been established as the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of hypertension during service and there is no evidence showing that his current condition is related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's migraine headaches began during service and are related to his active duty, granting service connection for this condition.

For the period prior to October 1, 2012, the Veteran's Crohn's disease was manifested by severe symptoms with numerous attacks per year and fair health only during remissions. Pronounced symptoms with marked malnutrition were not shown.,For the period prior to March 4, 2008, the Veteran's anemia was manifested by hemoglobin levels of 8.1 gm/100 ml or higher, along with headaches and easy fatigability. For the period beginning March 4, 2008, the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent were not met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tension headaches with nausea and dizziness do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating as they are not shown to be productive of characteristic prostrating attacks averaging at least one in two months over several months.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for headaches, but denied an increased rating for laceration of the chin with lipoma. The Veteran's current headaches are secondary to a head injury sustained in service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for headaches and remanded the issues related to PTSD, lumbar myositis, and TDIU. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Veteran's hypertension and tension headaches were not granted service connection, while the issue of residuals associated with facial injuries, status-post surgery is pending.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a chronic headache disability related to service, including as an undiagnosed illness or secondary to exposure to styrene or ionizing radiation.,The Board also found that the Veteran does not have a fatigue disability related to service, including as an undiagnosed illness or secondary to exposure to styrene or ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's TBI and its residuals, including headaches, memory loss, sleep disturbance, and inability to concentrate, were proximately caused by VA carelessness or negligence in October 2005. The event was not reasonably foreseeable.

The Veteran is granted service connection for depressive disorder and migraine headaches, as these conditions are found to be related to his military service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was not established due to lack of current disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left eye condition and associated headaches has been granted, with the effective date being April 29, 2011.

The Veteran's migraine headaches with visual aura did not have onset during active service, were not etiologically related to or caused by service, and were not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for headaches, but denied an increased rating for laceration of the chin with lipoma. The Veteran's current headaches are secondary to a head injury sustained in service.

The Veteran's migraines result in prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month over the last several months, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including an examination to assess the nature and severity of his service-connected undiagnosed illness. The claim will be readjudicated based on whether the disability may more appropriately be rated by analogy to Code 8100 (headaches).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and headache disability are not related to service, as they are considered a direct result of his own substance abuse.,Service connection for these conditions cannot be granted due to lack of evidence linking them to military service.