Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for initial compensable ratings for bilateral dry eye disorder and tension headaches, service connection for various conditions, and a VA examination is required to address the etiology of hypertension.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for headaches and remanded it for further development. The claims of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct, and for an effective date earlier than August 26, 2010, for the grant of service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct are also remanded.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for removing R.M. as a dependent spouse, adding M.M. as a dependent spouse, and adding D.M. as a dependent schoolchild over the age of 18.

The Veteran's headaches, hypertension, and skin disability are all remanded for further examination and opinion. The Board will consider service connection on the merits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include PTSD, depression, a respiratory disorder, TBI with insomnia and memory loss, lumbar strain/sprain, cervical DDD, and migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the claims for an unexplained burning sensation of the skin, headaches, flat feet (pes planus), and memory loss due to cervical spine degenerative disc disease. The appeals are pending.

The Veteran's residuals of concussion including posttraumatic headaches are currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to August 3, 2006; 30 percent disabling from August 3, 2006, to July 16, 2007; and 40 percent disabling from July 17, 2007. The Board denied increased ratings for all periods.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, and migraine headaches due to incomplete service medical records and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his acquired psychiatric condition, hearing loss disability, tinnitus, thoracic/lumbar spine disability, shoulder and knee disabilities, pes planus, eye disabilities, migraine headaches, acid reflux, pseudofolliculitis (PFB), hemorrhoids, pulmonary conditions, including COPD, and Meniere’s disease. The Board has remanded these issues for further action.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims on appeal can be decided. The issues of entitlement to restoration of a 20 percent rating for a back disability, an increased rating for a back disability, and an increased rating for migraine headaches are inextricably intertwined with other pending issues.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right finger disability, cervical spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, heart disability (to include coronary artery disease), hypertension, high cholesterol, melanoma, diabetes mellitus, headaches, and acquired psychiatric disability (to include anxiety).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 12, 2010. The Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a rib cage fracture has been denied as there is no current diagnosis or other competent finding of a current disorder.,The Veteran's hiatal hernia has been granted an increased rating to 30 percent, but the case is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology and severity.,The Veteran's left knee disorder, right knee disorder, cervical spine degenerative disc disease (neck), and degenerative arthritis of the spine (back) have all been remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's residuals of a right foot fracture has also been remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's migraines have been remanded for an updated VA examination to assess their current severity.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with DDD and IVDS is rated at 10% prior to July 26, 2017, and 40% following that date. The Veteran's migraines are rated at the maximum of 50%. Both ratings are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current headaches are related to her military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin rash, nausea associated with skin rashes, headaches associated with skin rashes, and depression associated with skin rashes. The issues of increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are also remanded due to their inextricable link to the reopened issue.

The Veteran's initial rating for chronic headaches prior to November 10, 2011 was denied. From November 10, 2011, a higher rating of 30 percent is granted.

Service connection for IBS, as due to Gulf War undiagnosed illness, is granted. Service connection for headaches, left arm condition, left wrist condition, right index finger injury, lower back condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, and right eye condition are denied. Service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, both as due to Gulf War undiagnosed illness, are also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and updated vocational rehabilitation counseling records.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the claim remains denied.