Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Veteran's TBI residuals including headaches, sleep difficulties and memory loss are not service connected. However, the Veteran's headache disorder is secondary to his service-connected PTSD with alcohol abuse.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected spine disability was granted, with an effective date of December 13, 2010. The claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches remains on appeal and has been increased to 30 percent from February 27, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability and cervicogenic headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional service treatment records and readjudicating his claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist, headache, and sinusitis disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches have warranted a 10 percent disability rating since March 6, 2017. Prior to this date, the condition was rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were rated at 10% prior to April 21, 2015. From April 21, 2015 to July 1, 2016, the rating was increased to 30%. Starting from July 1, 2016, a 50% rating for migraine headaches is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches associated with residuals of C2 fracture have been productive of characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once per month over the last several months, warranting a 30 percent disability rating since September 29, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his Gulf War exposure history.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for unspecified tremors and headaches, finding that there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, headaches, and TDIU. The Veteran's exposure at Camp Lejeune is considered in these determinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids, as well as his reopenings of claims for acquired psychiatric disabilities, forehead lacerations, and right knee disabilities have been considered. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received to support these reopened claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for residual scar to include scar tissue, status post-cesarean section and headaches are denied as there is no evidence showing an in-service event or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's headache disability is related to his combat service in Vietnam, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's headaches, acquired psychiatric condition (claimed as panic disorder), and skin condition (claimed as shingles and hives) have all been associated with her service-connected medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, headaches, and photophobia. However, further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran is granted a 50 percent disability rating for headaches, effective from the date of the decision. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has been raised and will be addressed in the remand portion.

The Veteran is granted service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder. His claim for a sleep disability and rating for depression are both denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection were denied. For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. For migraine headaches, the Veteran's period of service from May 25, 1982 to May 27, 1988 was dishonorable due to willful and persistent misconduct, thus preventing him from receiving VA benefits related to that period. Service connection for right and left knee disabilities were also denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for left ear hearing loss, sinus disease (allergic rhinitis), and chronic headaches. The appeals were based on direct service connection.