Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for muscle and joint pain, headaches, and a stomach or bowel disorder are remanded. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is also remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension and current headache disability are granted service connection. The lung condition claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for left knee, ankle, and foot disorders, tinnitus, sleep apnea, hypertension, and migraine headaches. The VA is directed to obtain relevant medical records and schedule examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for headaches is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not show characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one a month over several months, which would warrant a 30 percent rating. The Veteran’s claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability including PTSD is remanded due to insufficient information and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to initial disability ratings for low back disability, migraine headaches, and TBI residuals, as well as service connection for hemorrhoids due to outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran is also requested to report for a VA examination to assess his current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension, chronic fatigue (claimed as tension headaches), and gastroesophageal reflux disease have been granted service connection. The Board found the evidence in relative equipoise for each condition.,Service connection was established for irritable bowel syndrome based on symptoms dating back to active duty. Service connection for hypertension and chronic fatigue were also granted, with the examiner attributing the headaches to Gulf War exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the lack of a current diagnosis of the claimed conditions. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for hypertension is also remanded as there is no evidence that his diastolic pressure was predominantly 100 or more, despite being on continuous medication.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding no current disability. Service connection for migraine headaches was granted with a 30% rating.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete development of the record, including the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and cervical spine disability, but denied service connection for brain cancer (undiagnosed illness), migraines (undiagnosed illness and/or secondary to brain cancer), and bilateral leg numbness (undiagnosed illness and/or secondary to brain cancer).

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, migraine headaches, left fourth cranial nerve dysfunction with diplopia, and bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus, right foot, and residuals of bunionectomy due to additional evidentiary development being required.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need to consider the ameliorative effects of his medications on the severity of his disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergic rhinitis and migraine headaches are granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis during his active service, and that his migraine headaches were secondary to his service-connected chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current conditions, particularly his heart and liver disorders which are believed to be related to a viral illness in April 1973 during active duty. The VA is instructed to obtain additional records and schedule appropriate examinations.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent prior to June 2, 2015. The Board found that the severity and frequency of his headaches more closely approximated the criteria for a 30 percent rating under DC 8100.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his peripheral neuropathy and headaches are related to service-connected residuals of gunshot wound.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches and low back disorder, as well as his claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder. The appeals are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has decided to remand four issues: reopening the service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, rating a left foot strain with hallux valgus and calluses, rating a costochondral strain of the left chest wall, and rating headaches. The Veteran is also asked to provide medical records from Hillside Family Center and complete a VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's appeal for a respiratory disability is dismissed. The claims of entitlement to service connection for seizures, blurred vision and spots, and migraines are reopened.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, and his PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse is rated at 70 percent. Both conditions meet the criteria for their respective ratings.