Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and back disabilities, as well as migraines secondary to a back disability, need further review due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's headache disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective June 2, 2016. Prior to that date, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and initial ratings for various knee, shoulder, toe, groin, and hearing loss conditions are remanded due to the need for new examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, headaches, shin splints, bone spurs in the right foot, back disability, and right knee disability. The reasons include lack of VA examination due to failure to report for scheduled examinations.

The Veteran's TDIU appeal is remanded due to uncertainty regarding the impact of her service-connected disabilities on her employability. A VA medical opinion is needed to determine if her conditions prevent her from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

Service connection is denied for chronic aches and pains of muscles and joints, including right hip.,Service connection is denied for chronic aches and pains of muscles and joints, including left hip.,Service connection is denied for sleep disorder other than sleep apnea.,Service connection is granted for tension headaches.,Service connection is denied for Raynaud’s disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's headaches are caused or aggravated by his service-connected TBI and/or tinnitus. The RO is instructed to obtain private treatment records, provide a VA examiner with the claims file for an opinion on causation and aggravation of headaches, and then readjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple joint arthritis, bilateral calf disability, and headaches has been reopened. The Board granted the reopening of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and his cervical spine disorder, TBI, and headaches/dizziness are granted. The issues of residuals of a concussion, back injury, Scheuermann’s disease, and depressive disorder remain pending and need further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI and light sensitivity secondary to TBI is denied. The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective March 5, 2015.,Service connection for PTSD remains denied as the evidence does not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to PTSD.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches was denied prior to July 1, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not show very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability before this date.,For the period from July 1, 2016 onwards, the Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the maximum schedular rating (50 percent). The case is remanded to consider whether an extraschedular evaluation is warranted.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, OSA, tension headaches, respiratory disorder, and CFS. The Board found no in-service incurrence or nexus to service for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostatectomy, migraine condition, lower back condition, resection of the colon, and sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board finds a need for further evaluation due to the passage of time since his last examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a migraine headache disability, which was secondary to his service-connected sinusitis, has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for head scars prior to October 5, 2017 and higher than 10 percent thereafter is denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lipomas, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as secondary to exposure to Camp Lejeune contaminated water due to incomplete records and need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety is currently rated at 10 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms that decrease work efficiency during periods of significant stress. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as her condition has improved with medication.,The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 10 percent, reflecting characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once every two months over the last several months.

The Veteran's TBI residuals are being remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's erectile dysfunction, as well as the current severity of his service-connected TBI, left pubis and sacroiliac disability, left ankle disability, bladder rupture residuals, and headaches. The Veteran will be scheduled for these examinations.