Migraines & headaches decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability with regard to chronic headaches and there is no competent evidence showing a chronic headache condition. Therefore, the claim for service connection for chronic headaches is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for his left ankle disorder, hepatitis B, neck disorder, low back disorder, headaches, and nerve disorder in upper extremities. The character of discharge under other than honorable conditions barred VA compensation benefits for these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are present in service and have been continuously manifested since then, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for residuals of meningitis, including headaches and dizziness, as well as his TDIU claim, have been granted. The combined rating now meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board denied a rating greater than 30 percent for the Veteran's headaches associated with his service-connected cervical spine disability, finding that the criteria for such a higher rating were not met.

The Veteran's head trauma residual headaches have been rated at 30 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating of 50 percent, finding that very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks, productive of severe economic inadaptability, meet the criteria for this increased rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and headaches due to outstanding medical records and inadequate VA medical opinions. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board after completion of these actions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches has been granted. The Board found that the evidence, including a private medical opinion and lay reports of recurrent headaches since service, established a link between his current condition and military service.

The Veteran's current tension headaches, right leg folliculitis, and right elbow tendonitis were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board finds no nexus between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with service connection established for multiple conditions including multiple sclerosis with rosacea, pain, weakness in all joints, optic neuritis, depression with anxiety, chronic fatigue, chronic migraines, and insomnia. Service connection was also established for degenerative joint disease of the right and left knee (claimed as right and left knee surgery with chronic pain), intervertebral disc syndrome (claimed as low back pain), and hirsutism with fibroids and ovarian cysts.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and migraine headaches have been granted service connection, with a 30% rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis effective August 11, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination to assess the current nature and severity of his TBI and any associated psychiatric disorders. The AOJ should also obtain all outstanding VA treatment records since January 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, Sleep Apnea, or Headaches.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, preventing him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.,His headaches are currently rated at 30 percent and do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a neck injury, to include arthritis, and residuals of a back injury, to include arthritis. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his in-service injuries.,Service connection was also denied for headaches, as the Veteran did not provide information regarding when he first experienced these symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for headache disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service. The examiner noted that the Veteran did not have a current disability for VA purposes regarding his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection for a headache disability and PTSD have been granted. However, the claim for an increased rating for PTSD has been denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus and headaches have been found to be related to service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to failure to schedule VA examinations. The case is now back before the Board.