Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, as they do not result in permanent impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ankylosis of a knee or hip, or loss of use of a hand or foot such that no effective function remains other than what would be equally well served by an amputation stump at the site of election below the elbow or knee with the use of a suitable prosthetic appliance.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for headaches. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and headaches are not related to his service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected tension headaches associated with TBI was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, which would be required for assignment of a schedular rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the severity of the service-connected cervical spine disability and whether headaches are related to or aggravated by this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran’s service-connected conditions, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, contributed to his fatal drug use, which caused his death. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's migraine headache disorder is not service-connected, but his sinusitis has been granted a separate rating.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for nasal fracture residuals remains denied.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 30% rating as of October 18, 2013. Prior to this date, he was rated at 10%. The increased ratings for PTSD and lumbar strain remain denied.

The Veteran's lumbar strain, left knee degenerative joint disease (left knee disability), PTSD, migraine headaches, cervical spine disability, left leg shin splints, right leg shin splints, bilateral hearing loss, and TBI have been granted service connection.,An initial rating of 40 percent for traumatic brain injury (TBI) has also been granted.

The Board found compelling circumstances warranted the Veteran's prolonged unauthorized absence, thus finding that his character of discharge from service for the period from October 1965 to March 1973 does not constitute a statutory or regulatory bar to VA compensation benefits.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, headache disorder, and vision disorder as these conditions are not shown to be related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and headache disability, to include as secondary to a cervical spine disability with radiculopathy, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, headaches, and vertigo due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a MUCMI (medically unexplained, chronic multi-symptom illness) manifesting as dizziness and loss of balance, diarrhea, and migraines is granted. The Board found that the Veteran has objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability due to Gulf War exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches are rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a head injury, headaches, cervical spine disability, and left shoulder disability due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's attorney requested to withdraw the appeal due to a correct calculation of past-due benefits, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's migraines are caused by his service-connected left shoulder strain and degenerative arthritis, status post rotator cuff repair with residuals. The Veteran does not have a separate nerve condition or muscle condition of the left shoulder. Service connection for nerve conditions of the neck is remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to their impact on his upper and lower extremities, as they do not result in loss of use of both upper or lower extremities.

The Board has restored the ratings for the Veteran's service-connected migraine headache disability and unspecified depressive disorder from 0% to their original levels of 30% and 50%, respectively, due to procedural flaws in the reduction process.

The Board has determined that there is new and relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran, warranting readjudication of her claims for service connection for migraine headaches and bilateral knee pain. The claims are now remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.