Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

This decision denies service connection for spina bifida and migraines, but grants effective dates earlier than January 10, 2004 for abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting and PTSD. The rating for abdominal pain is remanded, as is the rating for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran had a chronic condition during service and continuity of symptoms since discharge.

The Veteran's appeal is about the initial compensable rating for fibromyalgia. The Board has decided to remand this issue due to new evidence and a need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to additional evidence being added to the record and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the highest level of aid and attendance was denied as he does not meet the legal criteria for such benefit under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (r).

The Veteran's claims for service connection were dismissed due to the withdrawal of his claims by the Veteran. The Board also remanded several issues related to PTSD, headaches, cervical strain, and a multi-symptom condition claimed as fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including urinary incontinence claimed as secondary to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Additional evidence and a medical advisory opinion are needed.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and chronic headaches. The Veteran's hypertension was not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition.,Service connection for the respiratory disorder claimed as an upper airway cough syndrome is also denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for lumbar strain due to new evidence. The Veteran's current diagnosis is degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, which she contends is related to a 2003 vehicular accident during service. However, the VA examiner found no reliable evidence linking her current disability to service. The Board denied the claim of service connection for lumbar strain. For the migraine cephalgia issue, the Veteran's increased rating claim was remanded due to inadequate examination report.

The Veteran's rash in the groin area is not rated higher than noncompensable, and his headaches are now rated at 50 percent. The hypertension issue has been remanded due to a lack of a statement of the case.

Service connection for depressive disorder with anxious distress features and migraines has been granted.,Service connection for chronic sleep impairment is denied.

Service connection for migraine headaches and PTSD prior to April 15, 2009 is granted. Service connection for PTSD from April 15, 2009 to March 8, 2013 is also granted. The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to March 8, 2013 remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow, left shoulder, and left knee disabilities have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim for a right elbow disability is denied as there is no evidence linking it to active service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and left knee disabilities are granted as they may be related to his Gulf War service. However, the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were aggravated by service.,Service connection for headaches is granted on an aggravation basis, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

Entitlement to an initial rating of 100 percent for a depressive disorder is granted, subject to the regulations governing the payment of monetary awards.,Entitlement to an initial rating of 50 percent for migraine headaches is granted, subject to the regulations governing the payment of monetary awards.

An effective date of October 15, 2015 for the grant of service connection for a right foot disorder is granted.,An effective date prior to October 15, 2015 for the grant of service connection for a left foot disorder is denied.

Effective August 1, 2011, the Veteran has been granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities of depressive disorder, migraines, and tinnitus. The Board found that these conditions prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's headache disability is causally related or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension or medication used to treat that disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for TBI was dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for migraines prior to April 2018 was denied, but he received a grant of a 50% rating for migraines from that date onwards.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder.,Service connection for a sleep disorder (mild sleep apnea) is denied, as the evidence does not establish a separate disability from his service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability.,Service connection for lumbar spine disability, emphysema, obstructive sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus, type II are all denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in service or otherwise related to service.