Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal with respect to the issues of entitlement to service connection for a neck disorder and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for seizures and migraine headaches. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's motion alleging clear and unmistakable error in the assignment of a noncompensable rating for tinnitus from December 16, 1969 to June 10, 1999. The Board also denied his request for an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was denied as he does not have a diagnosis of PTSD. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against his claims of service connection for lumbar spine condition, bilateral knee condition, right shoulder condition, and migraines.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities and addressing his theory of entitlement to service connection based on a secondary disability.

The Veteran's PTSD, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches are all found to be related to his service. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's TBI is related to active service, and he is granted service connection for a TBI. The initial compensable rating claim for his headache disorder is denied.

The Veteran's neck pain and headaches are being remanded for further evaluation as they may be related to service, but a VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining new opinions on peripheral neuropathy and headaches.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be secondary to his service-connected SPS and/or cervical spine disability.,There is no currently diagnosed left hand condition, but the Veteran's reports of pain may be related to his service-connected SPS.

The Veteran's service-connected headache disability is rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 50% since November 8, 2017. Prior to July 11, 2003 and from July 11, 2003 through November 7, 2017, a higher rating was not warranted as there was no evidence of characteristic prostrating attacks or severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The right ankle condition claim requires a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including an imaging study of the right ankle. The headaches claim requires clarification on whether they are organic diseases of the nervous system and if they were caused or aggravated by service exposure to asbestos or medication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to his service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection. The issues of low back disability, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety), and migraines are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) are granted. The Board found that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the current conditions had their onset in service, thus granting service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have separate service-connected conditions for depression, anxiety, insomnia, chronic fatigue syndrome, back disorder, neck disorder, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, or headaches. The claims are denied as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches is being remanded due to the need to verify his Reserve duty dates and status, obtain records of treatment after service, and schedule a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disability, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability. The claim for residuals from traumatic brain injury (TBI) was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are characterized by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50% evaluation.

The Veteran's Eustachian tube dysfunction/perforated left drumhead is currently rated as noncompensable, effective July 11, 2008.,The Veteran's muscle tension and sinus headaches are currently rated as noncompensable, effective July 11, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for depression and insomnia, headaches, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and kidney disorder have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.,Service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is also denied.