Migraines & headaches Board decisions

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.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to February 1, 2015, for the start of payment of disability compensation based on his service-connected disabilities. The effective date of the grants of service connection was January 1, 2015, but actual payment began on February 1, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and migraine headaches due to incomplete compliance with previous remands. Specifically, additional VA treatment records from before 1998 need to be obtained, and in-person examinations by a medical professional are required.

The Veteran's chronic migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, the highest available rating under VA guidelines.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for tension headaches prior to August 27, 2015 is denied.,An initial disability rating of 50 percent or higher for tension headaches from August 27, 2015 is granted.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, allergies, a headache disability, and a respiratory disability (to include latent Tuberculosis) have all been denied as they are not supported by evidence showing service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 1, 2011 for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to have caused his obesity, which in turn caused his diabetes mellitus. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran’s diabetes mellitus is secondary to his service-connected disabilities and grants service connection for diabetes mellitus.