Migraines & headaches decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim is dismissed as moot because his symptoms of headaches, nausea, and loss of consciousness are a manifestation of his already service-connected anxiety disorder with conversion disorder.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current low back and headache disabilities to his service, including an in-service injury. The claims were denied as there was insufficient medical evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board finds that the evidence is at equipoise regarding the etiology of the Veteran's dizziness, and grants service connection for dizziness on a secondary basis to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for new VA examinations to evaluate his bilateral SNHL, bilateral foot condition, bilateral knee condition, tension headaches, back condition, and muscle and joint pain.

The Veteran does not have a qualifying chronic disability to include undiagnosed illness and medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness other than fibromyalgia, which is already service-connected. The symptoms of mental health symptoms, sleep impairment, headaches, and muscle and joint pain are considered part of the service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to incomplete records and need further development. The claim of reopening a previously denied headaches claim is granted.

The Veteran's migraine and tension headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, effective from January 9, 2013. The TBI is rated as 10 percent disabling since the onset of symptoms in service. Service connection for a right hip condition and an upper back/neck condition has been granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic headaches is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his active service.,The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a right ear infection is denied as the VA examiner found no current diagnosis or symptomatology associated with this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's tension headaches are not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were initially rated at 30 percent prior to November 19, 2012. Since then, the Board has granted a 50 percent rating effective from November 19, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are not severe enough to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and its complications, have met the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU since March 16, 2009. Competent evidence indicates that these conditions prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational background and work experience.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal concerning the issues of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for headaches, a neck disability, a head injury, and a right elbow disability, and for entitlement to an increased rating for a disability of little finger on the right hand.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for PTSD, service connection for migraines, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings were denied. The Veteran was not granted higher ratings for sleep apnea or TBI, and his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches with migraines are manifested by prostrating attacks that occurred approximately 2 to 7 times per month, lasted approximately 6 hours or more, and were capable of producing severe economic inadaptability. The Board grants a 50 percent rating for the period from November 4, 2010 to January 12, 2016.

The Board has granted an initial 50 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, but has not yet decided whether a TDIU is warranted based solely on this disability. The case is being remanded to determine if an extra-schedular rating is appropriate and to obtain additional records.

PTSD was initially granted with a 10% rating prior to September 13, 2011 and increased to 30% from that date until May 24, 2016. After May 24, 2016, the Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70%. Post-concussive syndrome with headaches was initially granted with a 10% rating.,The Veteran has been granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA back examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 1, 2015. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence shows he was currently precluded from obtaining and maintaining such employment due to his service-connected conditions.