Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and denied an initial compensable rating for headaches.

Service connection is granted for left foot pes planus, but service connection and rating are denied for ear infections, cold injury residuals of the bilateral hands, feet, and ears, headaches, and left hand carpal tunnel syndrome. An effective date prior to February 1, 2016, for TBI residuals is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU due to chronic mastoiditis with headaches. The AOJ is instructed to consider whether a higher extra-schedular rating for headaches is warranted, as well as obtain all outstanding VA records and any relevant private treatment records.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 50 percent from July 11, 2012. The Board found that the symptoms of his tension headaches have been severe enough to meet the criteria for a 50 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be as likely as not attributable to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and headaches as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions in the record.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted a 30% rating prior to February 24, 2014. From that date forward, the Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his sleep apnea. The Veteran's headaches are remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diverticulitis, acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression), headaches, and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or relationship to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, high blood pressure, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for brain tumor, headaches, GERD, and neurobehavioral effects due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune have all been denied. The Board found that the submitted evidence did not provide a link between these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues related to residuals of a rib injury, migraines, back strains (claimed as thoracic spine condition), tinnitus, increased rating for Meniere's Disease, and increased rating for depression.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted with a disability rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and consideration of her mixed type headaches, as well as TDIU. The initial rating for sinusitis remains denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease (IHD), transient ischemia attack (TIA), stroke, headaches, or PTSD. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's TBI was granted, and the effective date is September 26, 2007.,Tinnitus has a maximum rating of 10 percent, which is already assigned. No higher ratings are available.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder, right shoulder, left ankle, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and right ankle disabilities. The decision also includes a request for an initial compensable disability rating for migraine headaches. A new examination is required for each issue.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, but denied service connection for headaches. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is presumed to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure from his military duties as a fire support specialist. For headaches, the Board found no current diagnosis and thus denied service connection.

The Board has granted a temporary total evaluation for the period from February 1, 2012 to February 1, 2013 and an initial 30 percent rating since February 1, 2013 for the Veteran's right knee disability. The remaining issues of entitlement to higher ratings are remanded due to need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including anxiety, bipolar disorder, insomnia, eye disability (including blurred vision), PTSD, and migraine headaches. The VA is instructed to provide a new examination for assessing these conditions and their relationship to service-connected disabilities, as well as to consider additional evidence received since the last SSOC.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of increased rating for glaucoma and entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.