Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including chronic myositis of the paralumbar spine muscles, cervical spine with pain radiating to the lower extremities, sleep apnea, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia, diabetes mellitus type II, subdural hematomas, headaches, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for concussion residuals, headaches, maladjusted jaw, and loss of teeth as there was no credible evidence showing these conditions had their onset during active service.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The claims for prostate cancer, kidney disability, and seizure disorder are denied. A 30 percent rating is granted for headaches from March 16, 2009 to April 23, 2015.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for Meniere’s Disease and migraine headaches were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher evaluation than the currently assigned ratings.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and headaches were denied in October 1985. He later submitted new evidence to reopen these claims in September 1992 and February 1996, respectively.,An effective date of December 27, 1995 was assigned for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of various disabilities due to incomplete or insufficient evidence, including lack of recent VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including cold injury residuals of the hands and feet, TBI residuals, and headaches. The Veteran's symptoms were not supported by current medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for heat stroke residuals and headaches, as well as a need for additional examination of the Veteran's lumbar spine condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and headaches as the Veteran did not meet the current disability requirement. The Veteran's claims were based on his contention that he had these conditions related to service, but there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's migraine headaches are related to service. The claim will be reviewed again with a new examination.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and headaches, finding that they are not proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for speech disorder, tinnitus, headache disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, and balance disorder as secondary to residuals of mild traumatic brain injury due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating. The Board has determined that application of the regular schedular provisions is not impractical.,There is no evidence of a diagnosed chronic sleep disorder during the appeal period. Therefore, service connection for a sleep disorder cannot be granted.,The Veteran's headaches have also not been diagnosed as a current condition. Thus, service connection for headaches cannot be granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder also claimed as memory loss was granted. Other claims were remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded several service connection issues, including for cervical spine strain, headaches, PTSD, sleep apnea (OSA), and prostate condition (BPH).

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left hand arthritis, hypertension, residuals of a head injury, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety), and tension headaches. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all outstanding records and schedule VA examinations for the appropriate conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the issue regarding an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The Veteran's vertigo disability is granted with a 30 percent rating. The remaining issues, including low back and left knee disabilities, migraines, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss, are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral impacted cerumen of the ears and headache disability are granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for PTSD, facial pain, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and TMJ dysfunction are remanded due to lack of a definitive opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is reopened due to new evidence showing a link between his service-connected sinusitis and his headaches. The claims for higher ratings for various disabilities, including psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, rhinitis, hemorrhoids, appendectomy residuals, scar of the right middle finger, obstructive sleep apnea, and TDIU are all remanded for further development.