Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's post-concussive headaches and for obtaining updated VA treatment records. The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for his TBI and post-concussive headaches.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a 30 percent effective December 8, 2010. The Board found that the Veteran experienced more than one prostrating headache attack per month starting from December 8, 2010.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining issues were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches was denied as the available schedular evaluations were found adequate to describe his disability level and symptomatology.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for residuals of TBI has been granted throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims due to an incomplete record from Reynolds ACH for the period of 2003-2008, and the need to notify the Veteran and his representative if any requested records are unavailable.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease of the right knee, is granted as service-connected. Other conditions are denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and TDIU were withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disability and allergic rhinitis, but has remanded the issues of service connection for prostate cancer and tension headaches, as well as the issue of a 10 percent disability rating for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for tension headaches was denied, and the effective date for service connection for tension headaches was also denied. The highest schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 8100 is 50 percent, which has been assigned since August 27, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring further medical opinions on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's headache disorders.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 50 percent for migraines and tension headaches is granted. The Veteran also receives entitlement to TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for various equipment purchases and home modifications under the independent living plan through VA’s VR&E program is remanded due to incomplete documentation, lack of a Vocational Rehabilitation evaluation, and unavailability of certain records. The AOJ must ensure all relevant documents are obtained and associate them with the claims file.

The Veteran was granted initial disability ratings of 30 percent for GERD, Migraine Headaches, Right Ankle Lateral Collateral Ligament Sprain, and Right Leg Shin Splints.,These ratings are effective from the dates specified in the decision.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical services received at Methodist Hospital on April 3, 2016 is denied because a VA facility was feasibly available to provide the treatment and the Veteran had already visited VA facilities multiple times without success.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, Headache Disorder, and Acquired Psychiatric Disorder have been granted. The appeals are allowed to the extent that these conditions were not previously denied.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is related to service and has been granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a neck disorder, upper extremity neuropathy, foot disorder (right foot and right ankle disorders), right knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as sleep disturbances), and migraine disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tachycardia, fistulas, migraine headaches, and adrenal insufficiency as secondary to service-connected PTSD due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, including those related to exposure to herbicide agents, as the evidence did not establish actual or presumed exposure and the conditions were not shown to be directly related to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have caused or aggravated his claimed OSA and tension headaches. The Veteran's TDIU claim from November 1, 2014 is granted.