Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The claims for service connection for low back disability, left foot nerve disability, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), fibromyalgia, and migraine headaches are all granted.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on the presumption of exposure to Gulf War service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for headaches and PTSD due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's representative raised a secondary service connection theory, and the examiner did not find PTSD based on the provided criteria.

The Veteran's claim for chloracne, high cholesterol, headache disability, hypertension, and blood clots is denied as there is no current diagnosis of any of these conditions.,The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service has not been established.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, but denied service connection for rashes and sores due to Gulf War exposure. The Veteran's headaches are considered incurred in service, while his skin condition does not meet the criteria for a qualifying chronic disability under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck disability, traumatic brain injury, post-concussive headaches, and acquired psychiatric disability due to incomplete records. The AOJ is instructed to verify all periods of active duty, inactive duty for training, and active duty for training, including those from August 1983 to September 1983 and 1991 to 1993 with the 122nd Army Reserve Command. They are also directed to obtain any outstanding service treatment records and VA hospital records.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at a 50 percent evaluation since October 14, 2010. The appeal is allowed.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted service connection, while type II diabetes mellitus and back disability are denied. Migraine headaches, PTSD, and major depressive disorder claims remain pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a neck disability and a migraine disability, as well as secondary service connection for the migraine disability. The remand is due to concerns about the presumption of soundness at entry into service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for headaches and granted service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (neurocognitive disorder) and migraine headaches. The Veteran's neurocognitive disorder is linked to his in-service traumatic brain injury, and his migraine headaches are also related to this injury.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches, including pain over the left eye, is denied as there is no credible medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, claimed as secondary to his service-connected Meniere's disease is granted. The matter of an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical examinations and lack of proper verification of a stressor.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to September 6, 2013 is granted. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities precluded him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment during this time.

The Veteran's neurobehavioral effects, including twitching, skin crawling, jerking, anxiety attacks, headaches, depression, and a nervous condition, are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, foot, and cervical spine disabilities were previously denied. New evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.,Service connection was granted for a headache disorder secondary to tinnitus and major depressive disorder, and OSA was also granted as secondary to major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative joint and disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,The Veteran's posttraumatic tension headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for headaches and TDIU prior to November 17, 2015 are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, but the issues of service connection for chronic stomach pain and headaches secondary to PTSD have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations.