Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Board dismissed the appeal for PTSD due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal. The claims for fatigue and headaches were not reopened as there was no new and material evidence submitted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, neck disability, and headache disability. The claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's cervical spine injury is not related to his military service.,There is no evidence that the Veteran’s sleep apnea began in or is related to his active duty service.,The preponderance of the evidence does not demonstrate a link between the Veteran’s heart disease and his service-connected psychiatric disorder.,The Veteran's stomach problems, also claimed as ulcers, did not begin during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or illness.,There is no current diagnosis of right ear scars due to a head injury. The claim must be denied.,Residuals of the head injury do not have a link to service and were not caused by it.,The Veteran's migraines are not related to his residuals of a head injury.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and an unspecified headache disorder, but denied service connection for gastritis, glaucoma, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and chronic headache disability, finding no current evidence of these conditions during the appeal period. The psychiatric claim is remanded.,Service connection was not granted for a chronic headache disability or hearing loss due to lack of current evidence meeting VA standards.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete or inaccurate medical records and need for further examination. The Veteran's exposure to burning waste pits is also under consideration.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to his military service and is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's right leg meralgia paresthetica is not related to his military service and is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is less likely than not related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically diabetes and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).,The Veteran's headaches are not related to his shell fragment wound in his neck.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify his service in the Indiana National Guard/Army Reserves and for a new examination to determine the current severity of his PTSD with residuals of TBI.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 30 percent for migraine headaches, effective October 4, 2005. The issue of service connection for DDD secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right neck disability is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral knee disability, low back disability, erectile dysfunction (secondary to PTSD), and headaches (secondary to PTSD) are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's migraines headaches are rated at a 30 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 8100. The Board found that his symptoms of prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month over the last several months meet the criteria for this rating.

The Board denied service connection for a headache disorder, including migraines, finding that the Veteran's current headaches are not related to his active duty service.

Service connection for hyperlipidemia, headaches, hyperthyroidism, depression, Peyronie's disease, colon polyps, West Nile virus, tinea, GERD, intestinal disorder (to include IBS and chronic diarrhea), back condition, hypothyroidism, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction is denied.,Service connection for PTSD was awarded on February 13, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for migraine headaches has been dismissed. The claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, diabetes mellitus, and arthritis are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for migraine headaches, right shoulder strain, and GERD was dismissed. Ratings of 10 percent for the right shoulder strain from November 1, 2013 to March 11, 2016, and a 30 percent rating for GERD from November 1, 2013 to March 11, 2016 were granted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, headaches, COPD, hypertension, bipolar disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder are all denied as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by an in-service injury, event, or illness, nor is there sufficient evidence to establish their relationship to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his psychiatric disabilities, headaches, and head scar.,The Board is requesting an addendum opinion from a neuropsychiatrist or other TBI specialist to address the relationship between the Veteran’s in-service head injuries and current mental health conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and migraine headaches, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ischemic heart disease (IHD), nephrosclerosis, and headaches due to a failure to report for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, headaches, and HIV are granted. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD prior to March 14, 2014 is denied.