Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnea, and back pain, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board grants TDIU prior to December 8, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected migraine headaches without considering the effects of medication.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions were denied as they did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to Persian Gulf War exposure or other qualifying chronic disability.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his right knee disability, service connection for various conditions, and entitlement to TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection in all cases.

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches are rated at 30 percent, and he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his post-traumatic headache disability is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining authorization and requesting complete copies of private treatment records from Dr. F.Y.C., and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, and erectile dysfunction were found to be related to his military service. The Board granted the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for a right ankle disability, tinnitus, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), with reasonable doubt resolving in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing Gulf War examination opinions.

The Board determined that the Veteran's character of discharge from November 8, 1989 to July 20, 2001 was dishonorable and thus barred VA benefits for this period. The claim for service connection for depression is reopened based on new evidence. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and migraines have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the claims for service connection and rating for obstructive sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury, migraine headaches, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's tension headaches, left knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder are found to be related to service. The ankle disorder is not currently diagnosed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for migraine headaches, as there is sufficient evidence of a current disability and in-service onset. However, the heart disorder (claimed as coronary artery disease) cannot be linked to service due to lack of continuity of symptoms.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for migraine headaches, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and GERD, each including as due to service-connected right knee arthritis. The Veteran did not experience any current disability related to these conditions that could be attributed to active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to new and material evidence. However, the claims for service connection for cervical spine and headache disabilities have been denied as they are not related to service or willful misconduct.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current migraine headache disability is related to his service. The Veteran reported headaches during service and continues to experience them post-service.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including contusion of the right hand, hypertension, headaches, bilateral foot disorder, left hand disorder, sleep apnea, herpes, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a memory disability, and his cranial neuralgia and migraine headaches are not incurred in or related to service. The left shoulder, bilateral elbow, right knee, and chest pain disabilities were also not found to be incurred in or related to service. The skin disability was not found to be incurred in or related to service.