Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's tension headaches were manifested by very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability from October 19, 2010 to September 1, 2014. The VA adjudicator has determined that a higher disability rating of 50 percent is warranted for this period.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be incurred during his active duty service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of a compensable rating for tension headaches remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional records and further development of his case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are also pending.

The Veteran's service-connected headache and tinnitus disabilities are not sufficient to meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, but his inability to work due to these conditions is considered. The case is being remanded for additional development including securing VA medical records.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are characterized by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The criteria for a 50 percent rating have been met.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines are very frequent and prolonged, with severe economic inadaptability. The Board finds that a rating of 50 percent is warranted for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, migraine-type headaches, lumbar myositis, cervical myositis, right (major) shoulder impingement syndrome, right knee sprain residuals, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and tinnitus, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. Therefore, he is granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for headaches, hypertension, and CAD are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or service connection due to the lack of in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 30 percent prior to January 15, 2015 and 50 percent from that date. The Board granted a rating of 30 percent for the period before January 15, 2015 and 50 percent thereafter.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for gout, CVA with right hemiparesis, and migraine headaches as secondary to hypertension. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is dismissed as without legal merit due to the finality of the September 2011 rating decision. The Board also found no clear and unmistakable error in that decision.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the issues of service connection for various conditions, including TBI and its related disabilities. The case will be returned to the RO for this purpose.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, dermatitis and skin disorder, headaches, and PTSD as they have already been granted by the RO.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the knees and migraine headaches have been denied. The Veteran was previously granted service connection for lower back disorder, radiculopathy in each leg, but her appeal does not include these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, to include migraines, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and no causal relationship between any such disability and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with the exception of asthma and TDIU issues. The DDD of the thoracolumbar spine was rated at 20 percent; gastrointestinal disabilities at 10 percent; posttraumatic headaches at 50 percent; right shoulder impingement syndrome at 20 percent; and left knee disorder with medial collateral ligament strain at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the issues on appeal can be decided.

The Veteran's lumbar DDD with traumatic arthritis and chronic headaches are found to be related to his service, specifically as a paratrooper. Service connection is granted for these conditions.