Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, to include migraines, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and no causal relationship between any such disability and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with the exception of asthma and TDIU issues. The DDD of the thoracolumbar spine was rated at 20 percent; gastrointestinal disabilities at 10 percent; posttraumatic headaches at 50 percent; right shoulder impingement syndrome at 20 percent; and left knee disorder with medial collateral ligament strain at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the issues on appeal can be decided.

The Veteran's lumbar DDD with traumatic arthritis and chronic headaches are found to be related to his service, specifically as a paratrooper. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's neck condition, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, headaches (claimed as brain damage), and acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's migraine and tension headaches are rated at 50 percent effective June 26, 2014. Prior to that date, the disability was rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened and granted. He is also awarded a 10 percent rating for his inguinal hernia repair residuals, characterized by pain. The Veteran's right orchiectomy residuals are not rated as compensable.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches prior to June 28, 2016 and since that date were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's schedular guidelines.

The Board denied service connection for an eye disability and migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD and headaches were rated, with the PTSD receiving a 30% rating prior to October 17, 2017, and a 70% rating thereafter. Headaches received a non-compensable rating until February 20, 2014, when they were upgraded to a 30% rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disorder, secondary to chronic low back pain, was denied. The Veteran also had his claims for increased ratings for chronic low back pain and depression denied.,For the period prior to June 24, 2013, the Veteran’s rating for chronic low back pain with muscle spasm was denied. However, from that date forward, a 40% rating was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused him to be unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since October 14, 2016. The effective date for this rating is October 14, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as any SSA disability benefits records. The case will be readjudicated after the completion of this development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current PFB is a continuation of the same diagnosis noted in service, and thus grants service connection for PFB.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, entitling him to a TDIU.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and he is granted a 50 percent evaluation for his headaches.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and referral to the Director of Compensation Service.