Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Veteran's migraine headaches caused severe prostrating and prolonged attacks with symptoms including throbbing pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to light and noise. The VA found that these symptoms meet the criteria for a 50% disability rating since September 18, 2015.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination and remanded the case due to the lack of probative value in the previous examiner's opinion. The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which may be secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for hiatal hernia was granted, and service connection for hypertension, PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, lumbar spine disability, major depressive disorder, right little finger ankylosis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was denied. The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for various conditions was also remanded.

The Veteran's maximum schedular rating for migraine headaches is being considered, but the appeal is remanded due to new evidence received since the last decision.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 30 percent from February 9, 2017. The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent effective from February 9, 2017. Service connection for a traumatic brain injury is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension and prostate cancer, was denied. The claim for PTSD received an increased rating to 70 percent effective from April 15, 2015.

This decision denies service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and MRSA infection. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss, headaches, PTSD, night sweats, sleep disorders, and psoriatic arthritis are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches were found to be less frequent and not severe enough to warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of sleep apnea, and denied service connection for tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, prostate disability, high cholesterol, migraine headaches prior to December 28, 2016, left knee disability, right knee disability, hypertension, and anxiety disorder.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches from December 28, 2016 onwards have been granted with a 30% rating. The effective date of the award has also been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a head injury, TBI with residual headaches, hearing loss, heart disability, elevated cholesterol, liver disability, and kidney disability is granted. However, the claims for service connection for these conditions are based on direct evidence rather than any presumption or secondary relationship.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was likely caused by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore grants DIC benefits on this basis.

The Veteran's claim for acid reflux as secondary to obstructive sleep apnea is denied.,The Veteran's claim for headaches is granted, with the Board finding that there is at least equipoise evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) is granted, as the Board finds his statements credible regarding in-service events and concludes that his current diagnosis of depression is related to these events.,The Veteran's claims for a left hand/wrist condition and bilateral foot condition are remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claim for a left ear hearing loss disability is remanded for an appropriate VA examination, including consideration of aggravation by service-connected right ear hearing loss and/or tinnitus.,The Veteran's claim for a respiratory disability is remanded for readjudication based on additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to August 27, 2014 for service connection of major depressive disorder and headaches have been remanded. The claim for a higher initial rating for major depressive disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's headaches are productive of disability analogous to characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month over the last several months, and he is entitled to a 30 percent rating for his headache syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, stasis dermatitis/seborrheic keratosis, and hyperthyroidism were denied in a March 2014 rating decision. The Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal within the required timeframe.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen her service connection for a migraine headache disorder, but denied the claim itself as there is no evidence linking the condition to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient evidence on record regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions, particularly his left knee disability. The issues of service connection for headaches, high blood pressure, a sleep disability, tinnitus, depression, and left knee disability are being referred back to the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and effective dates have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.,The Board also remanded one issue: an evaluation for migraine headaches.

The Board has denied reopening the Veteran's claims for glaucoma and iris atrophy, left eye; a left eye disability; and headaches. The evidence submitted was found to be new but not material in relation to the issues on appeal.