Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches are granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The right foot pes planus is denied for an earlier effective date, but a rating of 20 percent is granted from June 18, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's emergency medical treatment at Bonner General Hospital on January 3, 2016 was for chest pain and a severe headache. The treatment met the criteria for payment or reimbursement under VA regulations due to the urgency of the condition and the unavailability of a VA facility.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's Gulf War service, including fatigue, headaches, dysgeusia (metallic taste in mouth), burning and tingling of both feet/hands, nausea, and night sweats. The appeal is remanded due to inadequate VA examination and potential need for additional private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches and bilateral knee disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical opinions or evidence regarding his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent effective November 29, 2018. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to the frequency and severity of her prostrating attacks.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on her bunionectomy scars was dismissed. The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches, finding that the condition began in service and has continued since then.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened and granted.,A TDIU is granted, with the Veteran meeting the schedular criteria for assignment of a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for migraine headaches and traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to active service. The Veteran's lay assertions have triggered VA's duty to provide an examination, but a full medical opinion is needed.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation for chronic cervical (neck) strain was denied, while he received a 10 percent rating for post-traumatic headaches.

The Veteran's headaches, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder due to medical conditions with major depressive episode and anxious distress features) are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's headaches, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder based on a direct relationship to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new vocational rehabilitation evaluation considering his current service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, left knee, and right knee conditions are granted service connection.,Service connection for headaches is also granted.

The Veteran's headache disorder is found to be proximately due to a fall caused by his service-connected left knee ligament insufficiency, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has vacated the denial of service connection for sleep apnea and denied a compensable rating for migraine headaches prior to December 28, 2016. The case is remanded for further action on these issues.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a current disability.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a cervical spine disability for which service connection could be granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for several issues, including those related to pes planus, migraines, pseudofolliculitis barbae, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, bursitis of the right hip (limitation of flexion), bursitis of the right hip (impairment of thigh), bursitis of the right hip (limitation of extension), and lumbar strain. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for tension headaches, lumbar spine strain, left knee strain, and right thumb strain disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 30 percent for tension headaches or 10 percent for the other conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis related to his claims of a gum condition and denies service connection for this claim. The Board also remanded two other issues: service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, and service connection for headaches as secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for balance problems. The claim to reopen for service connection for headaches was granted, and the Veteran's headaches are found to be at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD. The claims for service connection for sinus disorder, bilateral flat feet, and bilateral glaucoma are remanded.