Migraines & headaches decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and treatment records, as well as for a new VA examination. The issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, and osteoarthritis of the right index finger MP joint are pending.

The Veteran's joint aches, muscle aches, chronic fatigue, headaches, and loss of memory and concentration have all been attributed to known clinical diagnoses or activities, not undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability. The Board finds no evidence of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran has had headaches with very frequent completely prostrating attacks capable of producing severe economic inadaptability since January 29, 2007.,A 50 percent rating for headaches is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for joint disorder, muscle disorder, headache disorder, gastric disorder, respiratory disorder, skin disorder, and eye disorder prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's hypertension and tension headaches have been rated appropriately, but his left shoulder tendonitis and left hip strain do not warrant higher initial ratings. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection of bilateral hearing loss or a sleep disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increased ratings for PTSD and TBI before a decision was made.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and pressure headaches due to new evidence. However, it denied service connection for PTSD as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches, major depressive disorder, Crohn's disease, thoracolumbar strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and residuals of a scar post biopsy excision, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board finds that the issues of whether severance of service connection for PTSD was proper, and entitlement to service connection for various disabilities are currently before it as they are inextricably intertwined with the appellate issues of the effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD and the initial rating assigned for PTSD. The Veteran's period of honorable active service has already been finally adjudicated.

The Veteran's TBI residuals and ocular migraine headaches have been rated based on their severity, with the highest rating of 50% for the period from February 27, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete examination reports and other issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tension headaches, TDIU prior to June 7, 2014, and SMC based on aid and attendance are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of bilateral hearing loss, varicose veins of the bilateral lower extremities, left lower extremity blood clots, and other service connection claims. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to address these matters.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraine headaches, lumbosacral spine disorder, and cervical spine disorder, meet the criteria for a TDIU. The combined rating is 80 percent.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal, low back pain, and neck pain claims were granted. The Veteran's headaches and bilateral shoulder problems/disability claims were denied.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal before the Board could make a decision on the claim for service connection for migraine headache.

The Veteran's service-connected cluster headaches are adequately contemplated by the current schedular rating, and there is no evidence of marked interference with employment or frequent hospitalization. The claim for an extraschedular rating is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PUD, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss. The evidence did not show a disability picture more nearly approximating moderate or higher for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for angioedema, rhinitis, and headaches and memory loss is denied as there is no evidence of additional disability or permanent worsening due to VA care.