Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. Service connection is denied for chronic fatigue syndrome, headache disorder, bowel disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and bilateral knee degenerative joint disease (DJD) and bilateral shoulder bursitis.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 50 percent disabling. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects his disability picture, and thus does not warrant an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service in Southwest Asia is unclear and requires further clarification. Additionally, the VA Gulf War guidelines examination provided by the June 2016 examiner needs to be clarified as it contains incomplete responses and conflicting conclusions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, a skin disorder to include due to Agent Orange exposure, cluster headaches, and migraines. The evidence submitted since the previous decisions was found to be cumulative or redundant.

The Veteran's appeal as to the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, to include major depressive disorder and history of alcohol use disorder is dismissed. The issues pertaining to entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disorder, migraine headaches, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and failure to consider all theories of entitlement, including direct service connection and secondary service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for migraine headaches due to the absence of a current diagnosis. The claims for back condition, bilateral knees, and bilateral ankles are remanded as the VA examinations were inadequate.

The Veteran's migraines were rated at a 30 percent from January 18, 2013 to July 9, 2015. The Board found that the frequency of his headaches was once a month and granted a rating for this period.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective August 1, 2008, the date he first received service connection for his disabilities.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, the highest available rating, due to very frequent and prolonged attacks that cause severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of whether the Veteran's current hypertension, tension headaches, memory loss or residuals of a traumatic brain injury are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, a neck disability, headaches, GERD, and fatigue as they were not related to his active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorder. The Veteran's claim is granted. The issue of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for migraine headaches is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury, tension headaches, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, vascular dementia, and peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU based on these combined disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, to include as secondary to his service-connected postural hypotension, is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.

The Veteran's request for a local hearing with the San Juan Regional Office Decision Review Officer (DRO) has been acknowledged. The case is being remanded to schedule this requested hearing.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the case to obtain additional medical opinions. The claim of service connection for headaches is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches was granted. The appeals for the low and middle back, right ankle, and sleep apnea disabilities are remanded.

The claim for service connection for PTSD is reopened and granted. The appeal regarding compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability of Parkinson's disease, neurogenic bladder, insomnia, and headaches is remanded.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were not prostrating and did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to February 17, 2011. The Board denied an initial compensable rating.