Migraines & headaches Board decisions

An effective date of May 20, 2014 for a 50 percent disability rating for migraines is granted.,An effective date of May 20, 2014 for a 20 percent disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted. The periumbilical scar secondary to service-connected scar status post tubal litigation also receives an effective date of May 20, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, muscle pain, skin disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are all denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his first period of service.,Service connection cannot be granted on a direct basis because the Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including panic disorder, lumbar spondylosis-status post spinal fusion, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and other conditions, prevent her from maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The neuritis of the bilateral lower extremities claim was denied as there is no evidence of a disability prior to July 14, 2016. Service connection for cervical spine, headache, and bilateral hand conditions were also denied due to lack of medical evidence supporting their relationship with the Veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tailbone or coccyx pain is denied as there is no current disability related to the in-service injury.,The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.,The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are both rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's left calf strain is rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's mixed-type headaches are rated at 30 percent.,No effective date was provided in the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatic fever (claimed as elevated ASO titer and streptococcal levels), a chronic immune system disorder, a chronic upper respiratory disorder, mitral valve prolapse, and a neurological disorder (tingling and numbness) has been granted. The conditions are considered to be manifestations of an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness due to service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right shoulder disorder has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in May 2018.,Service connection for a right hand disorder claimed as secondary to service-connected right index finger status post laceration is denied. The available medical evidence does not demonstrate that the Veteran has, or at any pertinent point during the current appeal period has had, a diagnosis of a right hand disorder.,The claim of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for left knee patellofemoral syndrome is remanded due to missing VA examination reports from May 2017.,The claim of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for migraine headaches is remanded due to missing VA examination reports from May 2017.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches is granted.,The Veteran's service connection claims for a left fibrocystic breast lump and left breast scar are denied.,The Veteran's initial compensable rating claim for recurrent pharyngitis is granted, with a 10% rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings is remanded due to the need for further development of evidence in several areas.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to insufficient evidence in the record, including discrepancies between VA examiner findings and private physician diagnoses. The Veteran will be afforded another examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current heart disability, as well as initial evaluations for his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for headaches and fatigue was granted, but the claim for gastrointestinal disorder remains pending.,The Board found that new evidence supported reopening of the headache and fatigue claims. The gastrointestinal disorder claim is still pending.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to its inextricability with his § 1151 claim. Additionally, the VA treatment records and SSA decision must be obtained for both claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing documents and a need to rebuild his claims file. The issues include lumbar, thoracic, cervical, right knee, erectile dysfunction, headaches (claimed as cephalgia), left hand disability, right hand disability, paresthesia of upper extremities, sciatic pain in lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's lower back, right knee, skin condition on the left foot, and headache conditions. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

Service connection has been granted for headaches (also claimed as migraines), nasal obstruction to include sinusitis, and vasomotor to include allergic rhinitis.,The Veteran's current conditions are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches is granted as they are considered to have started during her military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to make a fully informed decision on these issues.

Service connection for headaches and low back disability has been granted.,Other claims, including those for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD), allergies, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, right knee disability, left knee disability, and right hip disability, have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not meet the auditory threshold criteria for a disability.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is granted as his reported symptoms are found to be related to service.