Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Veteran's mixed-type migraine headaches are rated at a 50 percent disability rating, the highest available under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to preclude gainful employment, and a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected vertigo is currently rated at 30 percent, effective September 5, 2017.,Prior to September 5, 2017, the Veteran was not entitled to a compensable rating for her migraine headaches.

The Board denied service connection for chronic headaches and TDIU, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Board found that the cause of death, combined methadone and oxycodone poisoning, was not service-connected as neither methadone nor oxycodone were prescribed by VA for the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The significant contributing condition, COPD, was also not service-connected.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of fractured orbit, diplopia, headaches, residuals of TBI with concussion, and left knee disability as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and TDIU were denied. The headaches are rated at 30 percent, the mandible disability at 20 percent, and there is no evidence of a combined rating that meets the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render her unemployable prior to July 31, 1996. The Board found that the criteria for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis were not met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted. The Veteran was awarded service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, and service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to his service-connected post-concussional syndrome with cerebellar dysfunction.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for glaucoma with a non-ocular headache, finding that her current disability is related to her active duty service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for groin trauma to the left testicle has been denied as there is no current evidence of a disability. The claims for acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, right hand pain, right middle finger pain, and headaches are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and right ear hearing loss. The issue of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, PTSD, and fatigue have been dismissed. The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches as secondary to her service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine to include DJD with disc prolapse was denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a migraine condition prior to May 25, 2015, and in excess of 30 percent from May 25, 2015 to April 7, 2016 was also denied.,The Veteran's back condition did not meet the criteria for an increased disability rating as his forward flexion of the lumbar spine was more than 30 degrees and he did not have any associated objective neurologic conditions warranting a separate evaluation. The Veteran's migraine condition met the criteria for a 10 percent disability rating prior to May 25, 2015, but did not meet the criteria for an increased disability rating from May 25, 2015 to April 7, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the Board found that his conditions did not warrant a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and he did not meet the criteria for service connection on any of the other issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to lack of proper notification of scheduled VA examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of headaches and that there is no evidence linking his headaches to service or any service-connected disabilities. The claims for back, bilateral ankle, and bilateral knee conditions are also denied as secondary to service-connected disabilities.