Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for joint disorder, muscle disorder, headache disorder, gastric disorder, respiratory disorder, skin disorder, and eye disorder prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's hypertension and tension headaches have been rated appropriately, but his left shoulder tendonitis and left hip strain do not warrant higher initial ratings. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection of bilateral hearing loss or a sleep disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increased ratings for PTSD and TBI before a decision was made.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and pressure headaches due to new evidence. However, it denied service connection for PTSD as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches, major depressive disorder, Crohn's disease, thoracolumbar strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and residuals of a scar post biopsy excision, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board finds that the issues of whether severance of service connection for PTSD was proper, and entitlement to service connection for various disabilities are currently before it as they are inextricably intertwined with the appellate issues of the effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD and the initial rating assigned for PTSD. The Veteran's period of honorable active service has already been finally adjudicated.

The Veteran's TBI residuals and ocular migraine headaches have been rated based on their severity, with the highest rating of 50% for the period from February 27, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete examination reports and other issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tension headaches, TDIU prior to June 7, 2014, and SMC based on aid and attendance are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of bilateral hearing loss, varicose veins of the bilateral lower extremities, left lower extremity blood clots, and other service connection claims. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to address these matters.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraine headaches, lumbosacral spine disorder, and cervical spine disorder, meet the criteria for a TDIU. The combined rating is 80 percent.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal, low back pain, and neck pain claims were granted. The Veteran's headaches and bilateral shoulder problems/disability claims were denied.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal before the Board could make a decision on the claim for service connection for migraine headache.

The Veteran's service-connected cluster headaches are adequately contemplated by the current schedular rating, and there is no evidence of marked interference with employment or frequent hospitalization. The claim for an extraschedular rating is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PUD, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss. The evidence did not show a disability picture more nearly approximating moderate or higher for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for angioedema, rhinitis, and headaches and memory loss is denied as there is no evidence of additional disability or permanent worsening due to VA care.

The Veteran's appeal involves seeking earlier effective dates for increased evaluations and service connection decisions related to PTSD and migraine headaches. The Board has decided that a hearing is needed before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA medical records, scheduling a VA examination regarding his bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disorder, lumbar strain, and PTSD, and updating the claims file with all relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with psychotic features is found to be etiologically related to service.,It is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's tinnitus is caused by noise exposure in service.