Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety), a gastrointestinal disability (including gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD)), and insomnia due to outstanding records from service treatment and personnel records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a back condition and migraine headaches to allow for additional development, including obtaining relevant service records and providing VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical opinions on whether the appellant was insane at the time of his offenses leading to a bad conduct discharge.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors. The conditions of interest include dental issues, hallux valgus of the feet, pseudofolliculitis barbae, right ankle condition, varicocele condition, low back condition, left knee condition, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), headache condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, headache disability, hepatitis C, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and hypertension. However, further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation for headaches has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected post-traumatic headaches are rated at 30 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is warranted due to an increase in severity since his last examination.

The Veteran's PTSD, right ear hearing loss, chronic diarrhea, migraines, and vertigo are all granted as service-connected.,However, the rating for left ear hearing loss is remanded.

The appeal of the issue of service connection for migraine headaches is dismissed. The claim to reopen a psychiatric disorder, including schizoid and bipolar disorders, is also dismissed as new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board dismissed all service connection claims except for the Veteran's TDIU claim, which was granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, hypertension, heart disability, scars associated with a heart disability, headache disability, and psychiatric disability. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected PTSD, as well as claims for various other disabilities. The Board has determined that further development is necessary due to the need for updated medical examinations and opinions regarding the severity of PTSD and the etiology of asthma.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including bilateral knee disorder, vision decrease, sleep apnea, heart murmur, anxiety, PTSD, and headaches as the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions during or after service.

The Veteran's TBI residuals and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded for further evaluation due to reported worsening symptoms.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, as the Veteran's continuous reporting of ringing in his ears since service supports a finding that it began during active duty. Service connection is denied for hemorrhoids and headaches (migraines), as there is no evidence showing they were caused by or related to service.,Service connection was not established for hemorrhoids because the condition existed prior to service, with documentation of treatment in 1987 before the Veteran's enlistment. The current condition is considered a natural progression beyond what would be expected from pre-existing conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder. The Veteran's claim is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records since November 2017 and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature of his claimed left shoulder disorder and current severity of his chronic headaches.

The claim for service connection of migraine headaches is being remanded due to the need for a further opinion regarding its etiology and whether it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected anemia.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at 50% effective December 2, 2010. The PTSD claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50% rating for service-connected migraine headaches is being remanded due to the AOJ not having properly notified him of previous decisions.

The Veteran's social anxiety disorder with insomnia and depression has been granted a 100 percent rating, effective October 24, 2013. The Board also found that the Veteran’s service-connected eye disorder is related to his military service.