Migraines & headaches decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a disability meeting VA criteria at any time during the period of the claim. Service connection for headaches was granted based on presumed relationship to PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been denied as his service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches originated during active service and are therefore granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a headache disorder, memory loss, or any form of peripheral neuropathy. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's migraines are found to be due to his service in the Gulf War, and they were aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 26, 2014, for the assignment of a 30 percent disabling rating for his service-connected headaches.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate opinions from the July 2016 VA examination and need further development, including obtaining additional medical records.

The Veteran's TBI and chronic headaches due to head trauma have been granted service connection. The remaining issues are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including neurological symptoms, headaches, skin disorder, muscle pain, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and CFS, were denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (migraines and right ankle disability) meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU effective February 27, 2009. The Board also found that he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to this date due to his migraines.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current TBI and related conditions are linked to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their combined rating of 60 percent, which is less than the minimum schedular requirement of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating, for purposes of accrued benefits, was denied as the evidence did not show he was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension and headache condition are being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and likely cause of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is currently pending and requires further action, including scheduling a Board hearing via videoconference. The issues of entitlement to higher initial ratings for right trochanteric bursitis and cluster headaches are on appeal.

The Veteran's tension headaches are found to have had their onset during service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence and for further adjudication. The issues include service connection for a headache disability, higher initial evaluation for anxiety disorder, and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from achieving a vocational goal as an automotive supervisor, and the Board finds that achievement of such a goal is not reasonably feasible.