Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches have warranted a 10 percent disability rating since March 6, 2017. Prior to this date, the condition was rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were rated at 10% prior to April 21, 2015. From April 21, 2015 to July 1, 2016, the rating was increased to 30%. Starting from July 1, 2016, a 50% rating for migraine headaches is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches associated with residuals of C2 fracture have been productive of characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once per month over the last several months, warranting a 30 percent disability rating since September 29, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his Gulf War exposure history.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for unspecified tremors and headaches, finding that there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, headaches, and TDIU. The Veteran's exposure at Camp Lejeune is considered in these determinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids, as well as his reopenings of claims for acquired psychiatric disabilities, forehead lacerations, and right knee disabilities have been considered. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received to support these reopened claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for residual scar to include scar tissue, status post-cesarean section and headaches are denied as there is no evidence showing an in-service event or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's headache disability is related to his combat service in Vietnam, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's headaches, acquired psychiatric condition (claimed as panic disorder), and skin condition (claimed as shingles and hives) have all been associated with her service-connected medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, headaches, and photophobia. However, further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran is granted a 50 percent disability rating for headaches, effective from the date of the decision. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has been raised and will be addressed in the remand portion.

The Veteran is granted service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder. His claim for a sleep disability and rating for depression are both denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection were denied. For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. For migraine headaches, the Veteran's period of service from May 25, 1982 to May 27, 1988 was dishonorable due to willful and persistent misconduct, thus preventing him from receiving VA benefits related to that period. Service connection for right and left knee disabilities were also denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for left ear hearing loss, sinus disease (allergic rhinitis), and chronic headaches. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to inadequate etiological opinions regarding his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches has been denied as the current 50% rating already encompasses his symptoms and disability level.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a head injury with muscle tension headaches was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's headaches do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they have not manifested by characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over the last several months.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraines were not incurred during active duty service, did not result from an injury or event that occurred during service, and were neither caused nor aggravated by hepatitis C or by any medications being taken to treat hepatitis C.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including maxillary sinusitis, headaches, PTSD, fracture of the right zygoma, bilateral hearing loss, and facial sinus injury residuals of the 5th right cranial nerve, precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU.