Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and an opinion regarding his claimed TBI with headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected TBI is found to cause his current migraine headaches. The effective date for the award of service connection for TBI has been set at April 9, 2013.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include a bipolar disorder, and to include as secondary to service-connected migraine headaches; entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches on an extraschedular basis; and entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) by reason of being housebound. As such, the Board must dismiss these claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and granted it. The claim for service connection for headaches was denied.

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches are manifested by prostrating attacks occurring at least once a month over the last several months, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a headache disability, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a maximum of 50 percent prior to September 20, 2017, and the appeal is granted for this period. After September 20, 2017, the Veteran received the maximum schedular rating allowed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are not related to his service, including any head trauma he experienced during deployment. The VA physician provided an opinion stating it is less likely than not that the Veteran's headaches are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for frostbite of the hands and feet, as well as his claim for an extraschedular rating, were denied. His claim for migraine headaches was granted with a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 40 percent for residuals of head injury, and separately assigned ratings of 10 percent for headaches, 30 percent for peripheral vestibular disorder, and 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected headaches was denied. The Board found that prior to July 24, 2017, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating due to lack of characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months. From July 24, 2017 forward, he met the criteria for a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to January 7, 2011.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed residuals of facial trauma, headaches, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and allergic rhinitis are not related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities from February 25, 2006 to July 22, 2008 rendered him unemployable due to his headaches and sinusitis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to active service.,The Veteran's preexisting lumbar spine disorder was not aggravated by active duty service. The cervical, knee, hip, stomach, headache, and right shoulder disorders were not shown in service or for many years thereafter.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining a copy of his DD-214 and any outstanding medical records. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss, tension headaches, and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current tension headaches and DDD of the cervical spine, as well as whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected right shoulder separation with DJD.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right eye disability, but found that it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, effective February 7, 2014. The Board found that the Veteran experienced characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once per month over the last several months.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of her right foot disability and service connection for headaches, left foot disability, low back disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that she had lost use of her right foot or that her symptoms warranted an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.