Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded due to incomplete records and the need to obtain SSA disability benefits information.

The Veteran's chronic headaches, right foot fifth toe fracture, and dementia (other than memory loss related to anxiety disorder) are granted service connection. The Veteran is also assigned a 10% evaluation for the right foot fifth toe fracture.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus and the evidence does not show a disease or injury in service.,An effective date earlier than September 10, 2015 for an initial grant of service connection for mood disorder is denied as the earliest date of claim is September 10, 2015.,Service connection for headaches secondary to service-connected mood disorder is granted based on a VA examiner's opinion that the Veteran’s migraine headaches are proximately due to his service-connected mood disorder.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for back condition, bilateral hip condition, sleep apnea, hypertension, and gastrointestinal condition. The TDIU claim is also remanded.,An increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain and right knee degenerative joint disease is also remanded.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hysterectomy and its relation to service. The Veteran is also denied service connection for migraines and an initial compensable rating for hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of clear evidence to rebut the presumption of regularity that applies to VA's date-stamping of incoming mail, and thus, the earliest possible effective date is June 1, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine and tension headache disorders have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU benefits. The VA examinations are needed to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of tension headaches with a history of migraines is denied. The appeal for a disability rating greater than 10 percent for tension headaches with a history of migraines is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current disability and credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service, thus establishing service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for TBI, left hand disability, left eye disability, right shoulder disability, headaches, and PTSD due to lack of verification of in-service injuries. The claims will be further developed to attempt to verify these incidents.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a material worsening of his headache disorder, and the need for further examination.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the denial of compensation for demyelinating disease with retrobulbar neuritis, left eye (NS). The claim is dismissed.,The Veteran also requested to withdraw his appeal regarding service connection for a visual defect. The claim is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease and tension headaches, finding that the Veteran's conditions had their onset during his active duty service. The decision is based on credible evidence of symptoms occurring in combat.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection for allergic rhinitis, shingles, and tension headaches. The claims for left foot arthritis, chest pain (costochondritis), cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, left knee disability, left ankle disability, and left heel spur are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability was granted effective May 23, 2013, which is the day following his separation from active service. The claim for an earlier effective date prior to this date is denied as a matter of law due to lack of legal basis.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 50 percent for migraines, effective April 30, 2013. The evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's migraines have caused very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability since April 30, 2013.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's complete service treatment records need to be obtained and reviewed, as they have not been associated with his claims file. The issues of tinnitus, chronic headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety, and PTSD) are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claimed joint pain, headaches, and hot sweats have been attributed to known clinical diagnoses and are not related to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for migraine headaches is remanded due to the need for a more thorough and contemporaneous examination.