Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches was pending before the RO and not addressed until September 2010 when she was granted a 30% rating. The effective date is set at April 7, 1992, which is one day after her separation from active duty.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and his TDIU claim has been granted with an effective date of November 20, 2014.,His service-connected disabilities precluded gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience since November 20, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, headaches, and seizure disorder based on CUE in the prior rating decisions. Effective dates have been set accordingly.,A TDIU rating is also granted effective from July 26, 1979.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected myofascial cephalgia headache disability.

The Veteran's undiagnosed illness has been rated at 60 percent since September 22, 2009. The Board finds that the disability is not productive of symptoms that are nearly constant and restrict routine daily activities to less than 50 percent of the pre-illness level. Therefore, a higher rating is not warranted. As of March 20, 2013, the Veteran's combined evaluation was 70%, meeting the threshold for TDIU. The Board finds that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be related to his service-connected hypertension and sleep apnea.,There is no current evidence of an inguinal hernia. The Veteran was diagnosed with a right inguinal strain in November 1991, but the hernia has not been confirmed.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for headaches prior to January 18, 2014, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD has been granted, with a final effective date of February 6, 2015.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for migraine headaches has been withdrawn. The Board is remanding the claim of VA benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of a scalene block administered during left shoulder surgery due to incomplete medical records and need for clarification on symptoms, treatment details, and foreseeability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the cervical spine disability and left arm peripheral neuropathy claims, and service connection is granted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including chronic pharyngitis, erectile dysfunction, allergic conjunctivitis, back disability, headaches, left shoulder and elbow disabilities, enlarged heart with chest pain and abnormal EKG, hypertension, gastrointestinal disability, and hyperthyroidism. The reasons were that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of several issues, including service connection claims related to various joints and a back disorder. The Veteran's claims are currently under review.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at the maximum available under Code 8100, resulting in a 50% disability rating.,The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's migraine and cluster headaches have been rated at 50 percent, the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 8100. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against finding an increased rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's allergy disorder and chronic migraine disorder clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service and were not aggravated by service. Therefore, these conditions are not considered incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's trapezius strain and cervical spine condition have been rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that this rating is not appropriate as there has never been ankylosis of the cervical spine. The tension headaches have also been rated at 30 percent, with no higher ratings available under current criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of residuals of a head injury, low back disability, neck disability, fatigue (claimed as sleep apnea), hypertension, sexual dysfunction, and GI disorder has been reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his blood pressure readings have consistently been below the threshold for higher ratings. The issue regarding vascular headaches is remanded due to the need for an appropriate VA examination.