Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for pseudo folliculitis barbae and found that it was aggravated during a period of active duty. The Veteran is also granted an increased rating to 20 percent for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine prior to June 30, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle ganglion cyst, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral pes planus, and headaches have been granted. The Veteran is also assigned a 10% disability rating for his headaches.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for migraine headaches, but the Board has determined that her existing service-connected chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis already compensates for her headache symptoms. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical records and arrange for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's migraine headaches are distinct from her service-connected chronic sinusitis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain outstanding VA treatment records and to provide the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations for her claimed disabilities. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not due to in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

Service connection granted for tinnitus, hemorrhoids, headache disability, and allergic rhinitis.,Service connection denied for cervical spine disorder and thoracolumbar spine disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, left shoulder disabilities, and headaches are being reviewed again.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a back disorder, diagnosed as spondylosis and a lumbosacral strain. The appeal regarding increased evaluations for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee and migraine headaches is dismissed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted as of December 23, 2009. The Board also dismissed all other claims due to the Veteran's withdrawal during his February 2018 hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since January 30, 2012. The effective date for this rating is set to that date.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective February 14, 2005. The Veteran's nephrolithiasis is currently rated as 30 percent disabling. Service connection for a headache disability is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further evaluations. The claims for increased ratings and service connection will be reconsidered after the development.

The Veteran's hearing loss is related to service and has been granted. The remaining claims for increased ratings, TDIU, and automobile claim are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for headaches was not supported by new and material evidence, and thus the claim remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted due to her service-connected disabilities, including multiple sclerosis and hypertension with chronic renal insufficiency.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hemorrhoids or IBS. The Board finds that service connection for these conditions is not warranted.,Service connection for migraine headaches was denied as the evidence did not establish a link between the condition and active duty.

The Veteran's headaches were rated at 30 percent prior to December 15, 2016 and 50 percent thereafter. The current rating is not higher.,The Veteran's back disability was rated at 20 percent prior to December 15, 2016 and 40 percent thereafter. The current rating is not higher.,The Veteran's right ulnar nerve condition was rated at 10 percent. A higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.,The Veteran's GERD was rated as noncompensable prior to December 15, 2016 and as 10 percent thereafter. The current rating is not higher.

The Board has determined that additional development of the TDIU claim is required due to conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's employment status and service-connected conditions.

The Veteran does not have any residuals of a TBI and his currently diagnosed migraine headaches were not present in service or until many years thereafter, and are not etiologically related to any incident of his active military service, including a TBI.