Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to his heart condition, PTSD, TDIU, and SMC. The Board has remanded several of these issues for further proceedings.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at the highest available level (50%) due to their severe economic inadaptability without medication.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus due to exposure to chemicals during service in Greece. The Veteran must be scheduled for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine if his current diabetes is related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic headaches were denied. The TBI residuals did not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent, while the post-traumatic headaches met the criteria for a separate 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of her back, left knee, and left ankle disabilities. The current status of her migraine headaches remains unresolved.

The Veteran's low back disability, sleep disability, hypertension, and headaches are not service-connected.,Ratings for residuals of cold injury to the left and right lower extremities remain at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and Migraine Headaches also claimed as secondary to TBI due to inconsistencies in his reported history of injuries, lack of National Guard duty records after 2008, and potential applicability of 38 U.S.C. § 1154(b) for the claimed TBI injury.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and increased rating were denied. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the May 2015 rating decision, and determined that there was not sufficient evidence to grant a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an immune system disorder is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied as it is not related to in-service noise exposure and the Veteran’s current tinnitus began many years after service.,Bilateral hearing loss (right ear) is not shown to be a disability for VA purposes, while left ear hearing loss is noted at entrance but does not show an increase in severity during service.,The issue of entitlement to increased initial rating for right knee chondromalacia patella is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection for head injury and brain tumor with residual memory loss, scar, slurred speech and headaches are remanded for additional development due to lack of specific medical examination or diagnosis.,Entitlement to service connection for muscle and joint pain is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance, as he can dress himself, keep himself clean, feed himself, attend to his personal needs, and navigate his daily environment without the help of another person.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, lower back disability, neck disability, and migraine headaches have been reopened. However, the Board finds that new evidence does not establish service connection for any of these conditions.,The VA examination did not consider the Veteran’s complaints of back pain during service or at separation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, is remanded. The claims for conjunctivitis and residuals of cellulitis in the lower groin areas are also remanded.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent disability rating for migraine headaches is granted, but the appeal to increase the rating beyond 10 percent is remanded due to insufficient evidence of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his TDIU award, finding that he was not precluded from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to March 31, 2006.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and failure to obtain VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's chronic headaches are rated at a 30 percent rating prior to April 7, 2014. The Board found that the Veteran experienced at least one prostrating headache per month before this date and thus meets the criteria for a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at 50 percent, which is the highest rating available under VA regulations. The claim for increased ratings of unspecified depressive disorder and TMJD remains pending.,The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is also pending as it is inextricably intertwined with the claims for increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for restless leg syndrome, a neck disorder, and migraine headaches due to potential secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development and evaluation of his conditions.