Migraines & headaches decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Hodgkin's disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, and headaches have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board finds no evidence of a direct relationship between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board found no relationship between the Veteran's sciatic nerve condition and his service-connected low back strain.,The Board also found no relationship between the Veteran's headaches and his service-connected low back strain.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of Type II diabetes mellitus, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and headaches are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the relationship between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches were directly incurred during service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is granted for tinea versicolor, periodontal disease, and some other conditions. The decision also acknowledges the Veteran's claims for hypertension as a qualifying chronic disability under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for service connection for migraines and an increased rating for colitis with bowel urgency and frequency, effective from the date of the withdrawal.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of records, including private treatment records from C.L.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, hypertension, and traumatic brain injury are all found to be related to service. The Board finds that the Veteran has established service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 8100, as they were not shown to be severe or prostrating in nature. The disability was rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's right elbow arthralgia is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it more closely approximates a limitation of motion to 70 degrees.

The Board has granted a TDIU for the period from November 30, 2008 due to service-connected migraine headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining her employment records and medical treatment records. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for migraine headaches and a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disorders are part of the remand.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability did not have its onset in active service or within one year thereafter and is not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's hypertension and endogenous depression with psychophysiological headaches have not been established as service-connected or due to a service-connected disability. The claim for an increased rating has also been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues, and the case will be returned for further review.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary before the claims can be decided, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's migraine headaches, her acquired psychiatric disorder, and her hypertension.

The Veteran's headaches, light-headedness, fatigue, memory loss, and confusion or disorientation are considered symptoms of his service-connected PTSD. The somatic arthralgia (joint pain) is found to be at least as likely as not due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for headaches, stiffness and pain in joints, gastrointestinal problems, loss of energy, forgetfulness, and nervousness due to an undiagnosed illness was granted with a 40 percent rating effective December 3, 2014. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease resulting in headaches and concluding that it would be speculative to state the cause of the stressors leading to his tension headaches. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support a secondary service connection based on PTSD and/or tinnitus.