Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining a copy of his DD-214 and any outstanding medical records. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss, tension headaches, and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current tension headaches and DDD of the cervical spine, as well as whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected right shoulder separation with DJD.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right eye disability, but found that it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, effective February 7, 2014. The Board found that the Veteran experienced characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once per month over the last several months.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of her right foot disability and service connection for headaches, left foot disability, low back disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that she had lost use of her right foot or that her symptoms warranted an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spondylosis and migraine headaches are related to his active military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations. The issues include service connection for exercise-induced asthma, increased disability ratings for right shoulder rotator cuff tear, uterine fibroids with menorrhagia, umbilical hernia repair, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is found to be service-connected due to its presumptive nature based on his Gulf War service. The other conditions are not currently service-connected.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, deviated septum, headaches, tinnitus, and a stomach disability are granted. A rating of 70 percent is assigned for PTSD prior to January 14, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and heart disability, as there is no evidence of these conditions during the pendency of his claim. The Board has also found that new examinations are necessary to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine and headache disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions were not present during service or related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including headaches and sinus problems, are granted.

The Veteran's service-connected vascular and tension headaches have been rated at 30 percent prior to September 21, 2016, and increased to 50 percent effective that date. The Veteran is also entitled to a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's residuals of bilateral bunionectomy are currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a head injury with post-traumatic headaches and scalp laceration are rated as 50 percent disabling from October 1, 2015. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to this rating based on his very frequent and completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The RO reduced the Veteran's right knee chondritis of the patella rating from 20 percent to 10 percent effective April 1, 2008. The reduction was proper as there was no material improvement in the condition that had been maintained under ordinary conditions of life.

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches were not incurred in service and are not related to a service-connected disease or injury. The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's headache disability was more likely due to stress and exercise, rather than his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination, as the previous examinations were based on inaccurate factual premises. The case will be returned to the Board for further proceedings.