Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he requested to withdraw the appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's joint and muscle pain, headaches, and GERD with dysphagia are related to his service in the Southwest Asia Theater during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's service-connected uterine leiomyoma, eczema, and headaches have been rated based on their respective criteria. The initial ratings for the conditions are granted.

The Veteran's fatigue and headaches are found to be related to his in-service exposure to styrene, which is not a presumptive condition. The Board grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, with the exception of a granted 20 percent disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has granted presumptive service connection for undiagnosed symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, and headaches as due to a qualifying chronic disability (undiagnosed illness) under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1117.

The Veteran's headaches are service-connected and rated at a separate 30 percent effective June 9, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability manifested by muscle aches, memory loss, inability to focus, nightmares and insomnia, IBS or weight loss. The Veteran has been granted service connection for fibromyalgia with symptoms of muscle aches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a combined rating of 90 percent, which is sufficient to warrant a TDIU. The Veteran has been found unemployable due to his chronic migraine headaches and other service-connected conditions.,The Veteran was granted a TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities, including his migraines.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI residuals is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and the need to obtain additional records.

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches. The issues of entitlement to increased evaluations for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, as well as left knee injury, are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for all issues related to service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his lower back condition, right shoulder arthritis, migraine headaches, and periodic limb movement disorder have been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision. The claims are therefore dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches have been rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The rating is based on characteristic prostrating attacks that occur frequently but are not productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been addressed. The Board has granted some of the requested increases in rating, but denied others.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 12, 2012 for a 30 percent rating for his headache disorder is denied as the evidence did not show that his headaches warranted such a rating from May 2010.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated as noncompensable since July 5, 2002. The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches effective from the date of service connection.,The Veteran's asbestosis has been rated at 10 percent since March 3, 2010. The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for interstitial lung disease (asbestosis) effective from the date of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and providing a new VA opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, and headaches disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches was denied as her symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.