Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of her medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for her service-connected chronic tension headaches is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches as there is no current diagnosis of a headache disability and the evidence does not show any in-service injury or incident that could be linked to his claimed condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for headaches and PTSD due to insufficient evidence regarding their impact on his work and daily life, as well as inconsistencies in the medical records. The Veteran will need to provide pay statements documenting sick leave use and private treatment records from his providers.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches. The cases of right ankle disability, skin rash (undiagnosed illness), and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's low back disability, depression disorder NOS, and chronic spinal headaches have been found to meet the criteria for a TDIU.,The Veteran has service-connected disabilities that combine to at least 70 percent disabling.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn and the claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, as well as initial rating claims, are dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD, sleep apnea, keloids, and headaches were not found to be related to service or service-connected conditions. The claims for these disabilities are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or maintaining more than marginal employment, and thus grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the entire appeal period, with marginal employment established as of February 15, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability, peripheral vestibular disorder, and a headache disorder were denied. The claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy was not addressed as it is not related to his service-connected hypertension. His claim for increased rating of hypertension was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for urethritis, gastrointestinal disorder, and migraine headaches due to lack of evidence establishing a nexus between the conditions and service. The Veteran's claims were not reopened as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to November 3, 2016. The combined rating of the service-connected conditions is 90 percent, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for joint pain, respiratory condition, sleep apnea, cirrhosis of the liver, headaches, and dementia.,The Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations due to outstanding VA and private medical records not being obtained.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome due to lack of a diagnosis, and remanded the cases for further examination and rating considerations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to insufficient explanations in previous VA examination reports. The claims include headaches, left knee disability, bilateral Achilles tendonitis, bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, claimed left hip condition, and claimed bilateral ankle conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines were initially rated at 30 percent prior to February 7, 2014. After February 7, 2014, the rating was increased to 50 percent effective that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of headaches was received on February 13, 2013. The Board denied an earlier effective date as there were no prior informal claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding earlier effective dates and remanded the cases for further evaluation of service connection, ratings, and psychiatric disorder.