Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headache disorder is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the appeal to the RO for additional action, including obtaining relevant personnel records from the Veteran's employer regarding his posttraumatic headaches and their impact on his employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a headache disorder. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his in-service noise exposure and TBI.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his claims for increased ratings and service connection are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of headaches and granted it. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for nerve damage to the spine and/or right lower extremity was denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional records and further development.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is as likely as not attributable to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's death was caused by a spontaneous rupture of an aortic aneurysm, which the Board finds is related to his service-connected disabilities. The Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's hypertension and head injury residuals have not been established as service-connected. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis of either condition.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at a noncompensable rating from February 9, 2010 to October 12, 2015 and a 30 percent rating effective October 12, 2015. The claim for an initial compensable rating prior to October 12, 2015 is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression, chronic headaches, and hematuria are related to his service-connected conditions. The remaining issues of service connection for left arm disability, right arm disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability have been granted.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated as at least 30 percent disabling throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that an initial rating of at least 30 percent is warranted for his service-connected headaches.

The Veteran's headaches are now rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 50 percent, effective January 24, 2017. The Veteran's TMJ is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for cluster headaches/migraines and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to April 9, 2012, or in excess of 50 percent thereafter for migraines. For GERD, the Veteran's symptoms were considered to be at least as severe as those warranting a 10 percent rating since October 26, 2015.,The Board also found that the evidence did not support a higher than 30 percent rating for GERD after October 26, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, a back disability, and a neurological disorder of the right lower extremity. The claim for residuals of electric shock is also granted as direct service connection was established.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to verify her periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), schedule a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her heat injury, migraine, heart disability, and low back disabilities, and readjudicate the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's IBS has been productive of severe impairment throughout the appeal period, warranting a 30% disability rating effective July 28, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and his ability to work.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability associated with the claimed conditions, and the Board finds that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam or have any other presumptive exposure to Agent Orange.