Migraines & headaches decisions — 2017

The Board granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy affecting the right and left lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus, with an effective date of October 9, 2012.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for the Veteran's low back disability or migraine headaches, as there was insufficient medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his income exceeds the poverty threshold and he is able to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 27, 2006 for the award of a 30 percent rating for service-connected headaches.

The Veteran's headaches, PTSD, vertigo, degenerative changes of the cervical and lumbar spine, right knee with chondromalacia, left knee with chondromalacia, and right shoulder, status-post acromioclavicular separation have been rated based on their current severity.,No further rating increases are warranted for any of these conditions.

The February 1999 Board decision denied service connection for headaches based on the absence of a medical opinion linking the condition to service. The Veteran's claim has been reopened, but new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy as secondary to PTSD with alcohol abuse, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for headaches is remanded for further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's headaches are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected cervical spine retrolisthesis with arthritis and muscle spasms, granting the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches have not caused prostrating attacks or severe economic inadaptability, and thus a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and myoma of the uterus are granted, but hypertension is not addressed as it is unclear whether it is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and further development is required.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a headache disorder due to incomplete development and need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has determined that a remand is required due to the Veteran's failure to attend scheduled VA examinations. The case will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claimed headaches have not been attributed to an undiagnosed illness and there is no competent medical evidence linking any of the diagnosed disability to service, including service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues currently before the Board, including service connection claims and a TDIU claim. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for vascular headaches on an extraschedular basis and entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches and post concussion headaches are granted. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is granted, with a current rating of 30 percent. The issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is moot as the PTSD rating already meets the criteria for a total disability rating.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions have been granted. The disabilities are considered direct service connections.

The Veteran's tension headaches have been rated at least 30 percent disabling throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that an initial rating of at least 30 percent is warranted for her chronic tension headaches.