Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Board has reopened the claim for left ankle disorder and granted service connection. Service connection was denied for fibromyalgia, muscle twitches, chronic fatigue syndrome, allergic rhinitis, sinus headaches, sleep disorder (obstructive sleep apnea), functional gastrointestinal disorder (chronic diarrhea), and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for headaches prior to January 4, 2018, and a rating in excess of 30 percent after that date are both denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected headaches prior to February 1, 2010 was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected headaches from February 1, 2010 onwards was also denied.

The Board has dismissed all pending appeals due to the appellant's withdrawal of his claims.

The Veteran's headaches are granted service connection. The initial ratings for left and right inguinal hernias remain at 10 percent, but a separate 10 percent rating is granted for the painful left inguinal hernia scar.

The Board has granted service connection for POTS, but the issues of bilateral knee disability, all-joint degenerative condition, migraines, fibromyalgia, muscle degenerative condition, chronic nerve pain, and eating disorder are remanded due to lack of clarity in the diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's current headache condition is related to his military service or if it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD, cervical spine condition, and/or bilateral shoulder condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, sleep apnea, and headaches have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including back disability, left and right knee disabilities, sleep apnea, residuals of heat stroke, and migraine headaches. The decision also remanded the claim for service connection for hypertension.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for bilateral hearing loss and asthma as the Veteran requested withdrawal of these issues. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's initial rating for TBI is denied, and the Board has remanded to evaluate his migraine headaches and mental disorder (paranoid schizophrenia).

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of headaches, a sleep disorder, and bilateral hearing loss disability due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claimed conditions of dizziness, fatigue, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, migraines, colon and prostate polyps, and bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome were not found to be related to his military service.,Service connection was denied for all the issues raised in this decision.

The Veteran's claims have been remanded due to new evidence submitted, including a lay statement from another member of the National Guard who witnessed his in-service injury. The Board finds that this evidence relates the Veteran’s current lumbar spine disability to an in-service injury and requires further examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative disc disease with right foraminal stenosis, is granted as service connected.,Right sciatica neuropathy is granted as secondary to the Veteran’s service-connected low back disability.,Migraine headaches are granted as service connected.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraines (claimed as tension headaches) were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not warrant a compensable rating, his tinnitus was rated at its maximum allowable level of 10 percent, and his migraines did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of prostrating attacks.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a renal disorder has been reopened. The Board also remanded several issues including initial ratings for various conditions such as tibia stress fracture, hypertension, head scar, burn scar of the left wrist and arm, migraine disorder, PTSD with TBI, right tibia stress fracture, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's migraines do not result in characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months, thus denying an initial compensable rating.,There is no evidence of arthritis during service or within one year post-service, and the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that it began in service. The claim for arthritis is denied.,The Veteran has not been diagnosed with residuals of circumcision of the penis at any time relevant to this appeal. His reports of symptoms do not constitute evidence of a current disability, even if they are related to his service. The claim for residuals of circumcision of the penis is denied.,Coronary artery disease did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service. The claim for coronary artery disease is denied.,A lumbar spine disability did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service. The claim for a lumbar spine disability is denied.,Right ankle and right foot disabilities are not secondary to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, as there is no evidence of such a relationship. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities and the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disorder, claimed as Achilles’ tendonitis. The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed in order to provide new VA examinations.