Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD with alcohol abuse disorder.,Service connection for prostate cancer and right hand disorders are denied.,Service connection for hypertension, residuals of frostbite, and headache disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for entitlement to service connection for sexually transmitted disease without prejudice. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, a sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), and headaches.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, effective from the date of receipt of his claim. The earlier effective date for service connection for migraine headaches is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches. The claims for PTSD and cervical degenerative joint disease are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for GERD and headaches due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine vertigo disorder has manifested in headaches with prostrating attacks, at the very least, occurring on an average once a month since September 1, 2009. The Board granted a separate 30 percent rating for migraine headaches effective September 1, 2009.

The Board has granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for the low back disability and remanded issues regarding service connection for bilateral foot skin disability, sinusitis, TMJ, and headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chest pain, head pain (including headaches), left elbow disability, lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, bilateral shoulder disability, dizziness, and gastrointestinal disability due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran is requested to obtain an addendum opinion with adequate rationale.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for acne (face and chest) and migraine headaches due to new evidence suggesting a worsening of these conditions since the last VA examinations in August 2012. The Veteran is required to provide additional information about her treatment, including private records, and undergo VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed all the appeals for increased ratings as the Veteran withdrew his appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches with post-concussive syndrome was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's dysmenorrhea was granted service connection as it began in service.,Service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is denied because the Veteran does not meet VA criteria for such a disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence of record.,The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent. The Board determined that a higher initial rating was not warranted as his attacks were not very frequent or severe enough to meet the criteria for a 50% rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were granted in a December 2014 rating decision, but the Board found that no earlier effective date could be assigned as there was no evidence of an earlier claim. The appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sacroiliac osteoarthritis, DDD of the cervical spine, and headaches due to new evidence. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent but no higher. TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been withdrawn. The appeal for tinnitus has been remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating issues have been withdrawn. The Board has determined that the Veteran wishes to withdraw her appeal regarding scoliosis and whether the disability rating assigned for GERD was clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The remaining issues, including those related to eczema, cervical strain/cervical radiculopathy, migraines, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, right foot plantar fasciitis/residuals of bunionectomy, and other conditions, are being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder, paroxysmal positional vertigo, and skin rash due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

The Veteran's headaches and cervical spine disabilities are granted as service connected. The headaches were present since the in-service fall, while the cervical spine disability is presumed to have started during service due to a fall.