Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has granted an effective date of June 27, 2006 for the award of a 30 percent rating for service-connected headaches.

The Veteran's headaches, PTSD, vertigo, degenerative changes of the cervical and lumbar spine, right knee with chondromalacia, left knee with chondromalacia, and right shoulder, status-post acromioclavicular separation have been rated based on their current severity.,No further rating increases are warranted for any of these conditions.

The February 1999 Board decision denied service connection for headaches based on the absence of a medical opinion linking the condition to service. The Veteran's claim has been reopened, but new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy as secondary to PTSD with alcohol abuse, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for headaches is remanded for further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's headaches are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected cervical spine retrolisthesis with arthritis and muscle spasms, granting the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches have not caused prostrating attacks or severe economic inadaptability, and thus a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and myoma of the uterus are granted, but hypertension is not addressed as it is unclear whether it is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and further development is required.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a headache disorder due to incomplete development and need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has determined that a remand is required due to the Veteran's failure to attend scheduled VA examinations. The case will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claimed headaches have not been attributed to an undiagnosed illness and there is no competent medical evidence linking any of the diagnosed disability to service, including service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues currently before the Board, including service connection claims and a TDIU claim. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for vascular headaches on an extraschedular basis and entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches and post concussion headaches are granted. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is granted, with a current rating of 30 percent. The issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is moot as the PTSD rating already meets the criteria for a total disability rating.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions have been granted. The disabilities are considered direct service connections.

The Veteran's tension headaches have been rated at least 30 percent disabling throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that an initial rating of at least 30 percent is warranted for her chronic tension headaches.

The Board has found that more development is necessary prior to final adjudication of the claims on appeal, including VA examinations for the Veteran's lumbar spine and headache disabilities. The case is REMANDED for these purposes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for obstructive sleep apnea disability. The Veteran's right ankle disability is denied as service connection cannot be established due to lack of in-service manifestation or link between current disability and service. Service connection for chronic headache disability remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the issues of entitlement to service connection for headaches and bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds that the Veteran has tinnitus that had its onset during his period of service, warranting service connection.