Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including CLL, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, hypertension, headaches, GERD, lumbar spine disorder, shoulder disorders, hip disorders, leg disorders, and a psychiatric disorder are denied. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not established as prior to January 23, 2014.

The Veteran's esophageal dysmotility disorder, right and left foot hallux valgus, migraine headaches, asthma, psoriasis, and alopecia are all rated at the maximum available under VA regulations. The Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that they do not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current headache, bilateral hip, or right leg disability related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against finding any such disabilities were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's disabilities are not considered to be an employment handicap, and he has been able to maintain stable employment since 2006. Therefore, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for vocational rehabilitation services.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current PTSD is at least as likely as not the result of an in-service event or injury. The other issues related to knee disabilities and headaches are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and migraines are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are now rated as 50 percent disabling effective July 16, 2012.,A rating in excess of 50 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's current sleep apnea disability began during, or was otherwise caused by, his active duty service and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), including headaches and dizziness, as well as cognitive impairment. The Veteran's headaches are found to be related to his in-service TBI, but the cognitive impairment is not.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, headaches, a left ear condition, and Meniere's disease. The Veteran was not shown to have these conditions in service or due to his service-connected tinnitus.,Service connection could not be established as the evidence did not show that any of these conditions were incurred during service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of gallstones has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's migraine headaches. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches did not manifest in service and were not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability, specifically his service-connected tinnitus. Therefore, service connection for migraine headaches is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches on an extraschedular basis was denied as the symptoms are adequately contemplated by the current 50% rating.

The Board has granted service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder as secondary to service-connected migraine and duodenal ulcer. The Veteran's eye disorder is not established by the evidence, and his mood disorder is not service-connected.

The Veteran's headaches were incurred in or aggravated by active service and the Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise, thus granting service connection for headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented her from securing or following gainful employment at any point during the appeal period, including prior to or after November 9, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of her headache disability and whether it is related to service-connected cervical spine stenosis and degenerative arthritis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address her back disability, migraines, and TMJ.