Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions due to incomplete examinations and lack of entrance examination prior to the Veteran's second period of active duty.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and umbilical hernia have been reopened. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions. Other issues are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he is now entitled to a 10 percent rating for his tinnitus. The other conditions are also recognized as service-connected.

The previously-denied claims for lower back disability and bilateral eye disorder are reopened, but the other claims remain pending.,The Veteran's current eye disorder is related to her in-service exposure to blowing sand and use of Visine. A VA examination is needed to determine if it is due to Persian Gulf War service.,VA will obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran has bilateral knee disabilities, including a history of an acute injury during service.,A VA examination is required to assess whether the Veteran's current joint pain is related to her Persian Gulf War service. A medical opinion should be obtained regarding this issue.,The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if she has any objective manifestations of cold injuries from service, and a medical opinion should be provided on this matter.,A VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran has a current gynecological disorder related to her in-service treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. A medical opinion should be obtained regarding this issue.,The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if she currently suffers from chronic headaches that are related to service, including an in-service head injury.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headache disorder are granted as service-connected.,Service connection is denied for the Veteran's claimed right hip disorder, right hand disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, and prostate disorder.

The Veteran's appeal regarding an increased rating for migraine headaches is dismissed. The claim of service connection for a back disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence, while the neck disorder issue is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for headaches and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus due to insufficient evidence and theories not addressed.

The Veteran's current dermatitis is not related to his service, and the Board denied this claim.,The Veteran's tension headaches are found to be proximately due to his service-connected tinnitus, and the claim for service connection was granted.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder, other specified anxiety disorder, and panic disorder) is found to be related to his time in active service, and the claim for service connection was granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of headaches has been reopened and granted. His low back disability is now rated at 40 percent, effective from January 11, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating for Compensation Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including back disability, lung disability, CFS, sleep apnea, hypertension, IBS, and migraine headaches, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate examination and treatment records. The Veteran's ocular migraines are not rated higher than 30 percent, while her PTSD is being evaluated with a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient development and examination of his medical history, including in-service noise exposure, symptomatology, and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, and a psychiatric disability including PTSD. The rating for total right knee replacement is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a cervical spine disability, residuals of a head injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to the Veteran's reported assault at Fort Dix in 1972. The VA is instructed to obtain Social Security Administration records, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination regarding his cervical spine condition, another for his head injuries, and a third for his psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including DDD of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, GERD, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, dermatitis, squamous cell skin cancer, CTS, upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, TBI, and migraine headaches. The Board found that there was no in-service injury or event supporting the claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher evaluation for his tension headaches and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an updated VA examination. The Veteran is also asked to complete a VA Form 21-8940 to provide information about his employment status.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including headaches and PTSD, prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of December 16, 2007. The Board granted an effective date of December 16, 2007 for the TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for Lyme disease and higher disability ratings for migraine headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's PTSD and migraine headaches are currently rated at 50 percent each, effective October 2, 2014. The case is remanded for further development.