Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.,Service connection granted for migraine headaches as aggravated by PTSD. The issue of a sleep disorder, to include sleep apnea, and Hepatitis C are both remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected low back disability and migraine headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, an acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression), a lumbar spine disability, and a left lower extremity neurological disability. Service connection for headaches is also granted. However, the claim of service connection for a gallbladder disability remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including upper respiratory condition, hypertension, folliculitis, headaches, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's neck disability is rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran also has other service-connected disabilities and her combined rating is less than 60%, so she cannot be granted a TDIU based on these conditions alone.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and headache condition due to service-connected PTSD are granted as service connected.

The Veteran's right and left knee disorders, as well as his neurological disorders of the lower extremities and headaches, are found to be related to service. His bilateral foot disorder is not considered due to service.

The Veteran's son, J.R., was found to be permanently incapable of self-support prior to the age of 18 due to various disabilities including learning disability, severe dyslexia, visual disorder, COPD with bronchial asthma attacks, and anxiety. The Board granted recognition as a helpless child.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder. The issues of service connection for a low back disability, bilateral pes planus, and migraines are remanded. The Veteran's claim for medical care under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 is dismissed as moot.

Service connection for major depressive disorder, headaches aggravated by tinnitus, and cervical spine disorder is granted. A 70% disability rating is assigned effective July 1, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for a neck disability and headaches due to insufficient medical opinions. The issues of TDIU prior to December 7, 2015 and an effective date for DEA are also being remanded as they may be impacted by the resolution of these service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of degenerative osteoarthritis, bronchitis, seborrheic keratosis, a low back disorder, a rectal abscess status post excision, and headaches with dizziness have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded these issues for further development.

The Board denied service connection for joint pain, sleep apnea, and tension headaches as they are not shown to be related to service or an undiagnosed illness.,Specifically, the Veteran's joint pain was found not to have been incurred in service and is not attributable to any unidentified illness or medically unexplained multi-symptom illness resulting from his service.

The Veteran's right shoulder osteoarthritis, hypertension, GERD, and headaches on a secondary basis are now service-connected.,A 40% rating for degenerative arthritis and DDD of the thoracolumbar spine is granted.

The Veteran's TBI is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available for this condition. The Board found that the Veteran's cognitive impairment, subjective symptoms, and emotional/behavioral dysfunction do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, service connection for hypertension, and TDIU due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Board has denied all service connection claims, finding no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active service.

The Board has decided that service connection for a left knee disability is granted, but the decision on headaches remains pending and needs to be remanded.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and migraine headaches, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's headaches are not shown to have characteristics of prostrating attacks, and thus do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.