Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his combined rating of 80% due to service-connected disabilities meets the threshold requirements for a TDIU. Additional development is needed to assess the functional impact of his service-connected conditions on his ability to work.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected ethmoid sinusitis. However, it denied service connection for his other foot disorders and growth on the back due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a migraine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches, residual of traumatic brain injury, have not been manifested by characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months. As such, he is not entitled to a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was reopened, and the appeal is granted. Service connection for headaches, sleep disturbance, and tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran's tension headaches were manifested by very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability from October 19, 2010 to September 1, 2014. The VA adjudicator has determined that a higher disability rating of 50 percent is warranted for this period.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be incurred during his active duty service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of a compensable rating for tension headaches remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional records and further development of his case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are also pending.

The Veteran's service-connected headache and tinnitus disabilities are not sufficient to meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, but his inability to work due to these conditions is considered. The case is being remanded for additional development including securing VA medical records.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are characterized by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The criteria for a 50 percent rating have been met.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines are very frequent and prolonged, with severe economic inadaptability. The Board finds that a rating of 50 percent is warranted for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, migraine-type headaches, lumbar myositis, cervical myositis, right (major) shoulder impingement syndrome, right knee sprain residuals, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and tinnitus, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. Therefore, he is granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for headaches, hypertension, and CAD are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or service connection due to the lack of in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 30 percent prior to January 15, 2015 and 50 percent from that date. The Board granted a rating of 30 percent for the period before January 15, 2015 and 50 percent thereafter.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for gout, CVA with right hemiparesis, and migraine headaches as secondary to hypertension. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is dismissed as without legal merit due to the finality of the September 2011 rating decision. The Board also found no clear and unmistakable error in that decision.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the issues of service connection for various conditions, including TBI and its related disabilities. The case will be returned to the RO for this purpose.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, dermatitis and skin disorder, headaches, and PTSD as they have already been granted by the RO.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the knees and migraine headaches have been denied. The Veteran was previously granted service connection for lower back disorder, radiculopathy in each leg, but her appeal does not include these issues.