Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches, left-lung disorder, lipomas, muscle deterioration disorder, and bone degeneration disorder due to lack of evidence supporting a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service or exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and tinnitus. Bilateral hearing loss, fibrous dysplasia of the left nasal cavity, and headaches are remanded due to incomplete information.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to missing documents in his electronic claims file. The AOJ is required to locate and upload any missing documentation, including a March 2003 rating decision, VA Form 21-4138 received January 28, 2008, claim to reopen filed on February 26, 2010; a March 7, 1978 treatment record from Herbert Thomas Hospital; a VA Medical Center Shreveport treatment record from September 15, 2006; a letter of inquiry from Senator Landrieu, and a newspaper article entitled 'VA Vows to End Backlog.'

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disorder, headaches, tinnitus (secondary to headaches), and left leg disorder (secondary to back disorder) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board dismissed all issues of appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder condition (rotator cuff tendinitis), respiratory condition (chronic bronchitis), and chronic headaches, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service.,There is no current diagnosis of chronic bronchitis or other respiratory disability in service, and the Veteran's STRs do not show any such condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for meningioma brain tumor and painful scars associated with a meningioma brain tumor.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's high cholesterol is denied as it does not constitute a disability, but his cervical spine, left knee, hemorrhoids, headaches (claimed as migraines), and insomnia are being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, joint pain, headaches, and tinnitus are all remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased rating for migraine headaches and TDIU due to the need for a complete record, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a headache disability and an acquired psychiatric disability (including depression and alcohol dependence) have been granted.,The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, vertigo, sleep apnea, residuals of traumatic brain injury, forehead scar status post laceration, and painful forehead scar status post laceration are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a back condition, eye condition, tinnitus, gastrointestinal disorder, migraine headaches, restless leg syndrome, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions were related to his military service.

The claims for service connection have been granted, but the Board has determined that more evidence is needed to determine if sleep apnea and eye disability are related to TBI. The effective date of the award of service connection for tinnitus will be remanded as well.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, Type II, heart disorder, Parkinson's disease and prostate cancer. Service connection remains denied for the other conditions.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and migraines were granted with an effective date of February 22, 2012. The Board found that the earlier dates proposed by the Veteran were not warranted.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, with the reasoning that current disability resulted from in-service noise exposure. Service connection is denied for TBI and headaches due to lack of a qualifying chronic disability or evidence linking symptoms to service.,Headaches are not considered a presumptive condition under VA regulations, and there is no direct evidence linking the Veteran's current headache symptoms to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent throughout the appeal period, effective from the date of this decision. The rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine remains at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his assertions of exposure to hazardous environmental factors during service in Southwest Asia, including pyridostigmine bromide and exposure to chemical weapons/nerve gas. The VA examiner found that all claimed disabilities are not related to these exposures.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current skin rash and headaches are not related to his service, but granted service connection for headaches as they began during service.