Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board found no evidence of a current low back disability related to service, including the Southwest Asia Theater.,There is insufficient documentation supporting a relationship between the Veteran's current headaches and service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, coronary artery disease, and migraine headaches. Service connection was also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely due to a TBI), weight gain disorder, and memory loss disorder as secondary to service-connected disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for his headaches or GERD with diarrhea.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected chronic adjustment disorder and migraine headaches were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of more disabling symptoms than currently evaluated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed headaches and vertigo are not related to his active duty service, and therefore denied service connection for these conditions. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied as there is no evidence showing he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms do not qualify as characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once per month.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are rated at the maximum 50 percent, which is considered a very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches is granted as there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's claim for a 50 percent rating for migraines prior to October 4, 2010 is denied. The effective date of the grant of special monthly compensation based on housebound status is set to October 4, 2010.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for vestibular dysfunction was denied as his symptoms were already compensated by the assigned schedular ratings.,The Veteran's headaches did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and thus he is still rated at 0 percent.

The Veteran's obesity is not a disability for VA compensation purposes.,There is no current diagnosis of a bilateral shoulder, hip, headache, or circulatory disorder.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for service-connected headaches and associated dizzy spells, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet the criteria for a 10% rating under Diagnostic Code 8100 due to lack of characteristic prostrating attacks.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or being housebound is denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need to determine if the Veteran's injuries occurred in the line of duty, which could affect his service connection claims.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and posttraumatic headaches are denied. The Veteran's TBI is currently rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of sinusitis is dismissed.,The Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating for residual fracture of right hand ring finger and little finger.,The Veteran is entitled to an initial 20 percent rating for right shoulder degenerative joint disease from September 24, 2011.,The Veteran is entitled to an initial 10 percent rating for residual right wrist fracture from September 24, 2011.,From July 4, 2017, the Veteran is entitled to a 30 percent rating for tension headaches.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, migraine headaches, and TBI were denied. The evidence did not show that the Veteran's conditions warranted a higher rating at any point during the period on appeal.

The Board has restored a 30% rating for tension headaches from May 8, 2013 to April 26, 2017. The heart condition claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board has identified the appeal as being related back to the original denial of an increased rating for sinusitis with headaches and face pain. The skin cancer claim is remanded due to a need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an opinion on whether the Veteran's skin cancer was caused by or otherwise resulted from ionizing radiation exposure during military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were previously denied in September 2010. No new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen these claims.