Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection claim for a lumbar spine disorder was denied. The Veteran received an initial disability rating of 50 percent for her migraine headaches from May 19, 2008 to November 15, 2016 and a 10 percent rating for chronic maxillary sinusitis from May 19, 2008 to July 5, 2012. The claim for TDIU was remanded.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50% and major depressive disorder is rated at 70%. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a sinus condition, but denied service connection for scarlet fever and arthritis. The left calf scar remains remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include tinnitus, hearing loss, heel pain, ankle pain, knee pain, psychiatric disorders, GERD, stomach condition, headaches, lung condition, sinus condition, and throat condition.

The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome is currently rated at 60 percent, but the Board found no evidence of nearly constant and severe symptoms that restrict routine daily activities almost completely.,For dyspnea with cough, a compensable rating was denied prior to August 5, 2014. From August 5, 2014 onward, a 10 percent rating is granted but not higher.,The Veteran's headaches are currently rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 8100 and the Board found no evidence of very prostrating and prolonged attacks that would warrant a 50 percent rating.,No new or material evidence was presented to reopen the service connection claim for any condition.

The Board has denied service connection for a breathing disability, but has remanded the claims for right shoulder disability, right arm tingling (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome), cervical spine disability, and mixed tension and vascular headaches.,Further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for right wrist disability, tinnitus, skin disability, and depression. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches. The right knee, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), back disability, and neck disability claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed because his other service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU, and he cannot secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions were denied. The claim to reopen the acquired psychiatric disorder was unsuccessful, and the other claims (for sleep apnea, acid reflux, sexual dysfunction, and migraine headaches) were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and migraine headaches have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

Bell's palsy is not currently manifest and did not manifest during the appeal period.,Global encephalitis was incurred in service and is related to vascular headaches.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for lost cognitive function to include memory loss, bilateral lower and upper extremity neurological disorders, vasomotor rhinitis, headache, and bilateral hearing loss have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of these conditions during or after the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 50 percent for migraines, cluster and tension headache (headache disability) and for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar strain and muscular spasms (back disability).

The Veteran's headaches, claimed as migraines, are rated at a maximum of 50 percent for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. Further development is needed, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying a claimed in-service stressor.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected migraines and depression, but needs further examination and evidence to determine this definitively.

The Board has dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's death, as they have no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the claimed conditions and service. The appellant is required to undergo VA examinations for his ankle, cheek bone fracture, broken nose, sinus disorder, and headache disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines are granted a 30% disability rating. The service-connected coccidioidomycosis is denied as it has resolved and no longer requires treatment.