Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Board granted service connection for a headache and nausea disorder, finding that the Veteran's preexisting condition was not aggravated by his military service. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found that the Veteran's migraine headaches are related to her service-connected PTSD. The claim for secondary service connection for diabetes mellitus is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has remanded the issues of cervical spine disability and lumbar spine disability for further development. The Veteran's claims for digestive disorder, migraine headaches, and residuals of traumatic brain injury are not supported by the evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of the record.

The Veteran's service connection claims for multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, chronic fatigue, joint and muscle pain, bowel incontinence, bladder incontinence, and chronic migraines have been granted. The claim for bilateral lower extremity numbness (neuralgia) is pending.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder, hypertension, intestinal problems, and anemia at the May 2017 Board hearing.,With resolution of reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the criteria for entitlement to service connection for a neck disorder have been met.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease and postconcussion syndrome (headache disability).,Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, diverticulitis, asthma, COPD, diabetes mellitus, PTSD, stroke, bowel cancer, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, hernia, sleep apnea, and nerve damage. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have not resulted in very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, thus preventing a higher initial disability rating.,Prior to March 15, 2016, the Veteran's TMJ dysfunction had been manifested by painful motion of the jaw. However, as her inter-incisal range was more than 40 mm and lateral excursion was more than 4 mm, she is not entitled to a higher initial disability rating for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed headaches due to TBI.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tension headaches are likely to have had their onset in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, and foot fungus. These conditions are all considered to be directly related to the Veteran's active duty service.,There is no evidence of a presumptive basis for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection and assigned a noncompensable disability rating. The earlier effective date claim for the increased disability rating of migraines was granted, with an effective date set at September 11, 2009.,Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is pending.

The Veteran's AVM was aggravated beyond the natural progression of the disease due to service. The Veteran is granted service connection for his AVM, and a remand is ordered for an examination regarding his headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraines and dizziness are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service or any related in-service events.

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's service-connected MDD is manifested by symptoms including depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective relationships.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The right wrist and neck disorders were not incurred in service, but are considered direct service-connected.

The Veteran is granted service connection for migraine headaches, which were incurred in active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed acquired mental disorders, memory problems, and headaches did not have onset in service or are otherwise causally connected to active service.

The Veteran's polycystic ovarian disease with amenorrhea is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Prior to December 17, 2012, the Veteran's headaches were evaluated as noncompensable. From December 17, 2012 to January 25, 2017, they are rated at 30 percent.