Migraines & headaches decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial evaluations have been denied. The Board found no evidence of ankylosis, incapacitating episodes, or other criteria warranting higher ratings.

The Veteran's migraines were found to be non-prostrating prior to March 28, 2008 and very frequent completely prostrating with prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability from March 28, 2008 onwards. The claim for a compensable rating prior to that date was denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various symptoms, including headaches, skin conditions, nausea, vocal cord dysfunction, and joint pain. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to provide the Veteran with appropriate examinations and opinions regarding her claims.

The Veteran's heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and headaches are all found to be related to his service in Vietnam and exposure to herbicides. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 30 percent since March 26, 2014. The Board denied a higher rating and also denied the claim for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, the maximum available under DC 8100. The VA examiner found that the Veteran experiences characteristic prostrating attacks approximately once a month over the last several months.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or an earlier effective date in any of the conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions and granted them as new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a lung disability and hearing loss, were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or associations with service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to address his claims.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for occipital headaches is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Veteran was not granted a compensable rating for migraine headaches, an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his spermatocele condition, or TDIU.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 50 percent, the highest schedular rating available. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity and impact of his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches were evaluated at a 30 percent rating from February 13, 1997 to October 31, 2009. The Board found that the evidence did not show severe economic inadaptability due to his headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headache disorder had its onset during service and continues to this day, warranting service connection. For his torn Achilles tendon, there is no evidence of current residuals.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of issues including service connection for migraines, whether a timely NOD was filed with respect to the initial rating assigned for Meniere's syndrome, and an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board Videoconference hearing to be held at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board in Washington, DC.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches from January 5, 2009, forward. Prior to that date, the Veteran was rated at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The claims will be reconsidered after all necessary evidence is obtained.