Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient opinions in previous VA examinations and the need to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a headache disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has current headaches and major depressive disorder, which are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of his headaches, dizziness, and low back disability. The claims will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches and CLL are not related to his service-connected tinnitus or exposure at Camp Lejeune, respectively. The claim for increased rating of bilateral hearing loss disability was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disorder was denied as there is no diagnosed kidney disorder at any time during the period on appeal. The Board finds that additional development is required to determine whether the Veteran has a separately diagnosed cognitive disorder and, if so, whether it is possible to differentiate the Veteran's symptoms of his dysthymic disorder from those of his cognitive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraines, depression, hypertension, gout, and hepatitis C are related to his active duty service. The Veteran's PTSD is not supported by evidence of record.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for left and right knee degenerative joint disease.,The Veteran is also seeking increased ratings for his depression, bilateral hip disabilities, and hypertension.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent, effective March 5, 2012. Service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, migraines, back injury, and residuals of left ankle/foot injury have also been established.

The Veteran's IBS was granted service connection effective January 22, 2015. The claim for migraine headaches is being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches was denied as the evidence did not show that his migraines were very frequent, completely prostrating, and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension with hyperkalemia, headaches, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's right knee condition and left knee condition are not considered incurred in or aggravated by service. Service connection for head injury is denied.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent effective before February 7, 2015, and at 10 percent from that date. The Veteran's chronic lumbar strain with intermittent right leg paresthesias is currently rated as 40 percent disabling.

The Veteran's shin splints, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, muscle strain, and residuals of a right calf muscle injury are not related to his active service. The Board also finds that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for the other claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's PTSD disability rating from 50 percent to 10 percent effective April 1, 2012 was improper due to an incomplete VA examination and lack of sustained improvement in his condition.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches due to inadequate explanation and lack of rationale regarding the impact on work.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left foot bunion/hallux valgus disabilities are manifested by painful motion, difficulty with sustained periods of standing or any weight-bearing of the feet.,For the period prior to July 17, 2015, the Veteran's allergic rhinitis is manifested by difficulty breathing through the nose and other allergy symptoms, with objective evidence of greater than 50 percent obstruction of her nasal passage on both sides. From July 17, 2015, the Veteran's allergic rhinitis is manifested by difficulty breathing through the nose and other allergy symptoms, with credible objective evidence of nasal polyps.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including cholecystectomy residuals, GERD, depression, knee disabilities, respiratory disorder, allergic rhinitis, sleep apnea, hemorrhoids, skin disability, traumatic brain injury residuals other than headaches, headaches, right eye trauma residuals, dry eye syndrome, and erectile dysfunction are all granted.,The Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, dry eye syndrome, and erectile dysfunction were found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service treatment records and personnel records. A VA examination is also required for the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a traumatic brain injury, fatigue, respiratory condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depressive disorder, mood disorder), coronary artery disease, left knee disability, and left shoulder disability have been denied. The decision does not address the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for fatigue.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of his right and left wrist disabilities, warts, left shoulder disability, and migraines have been denied as the earliest communications indicating intent to file a claim were received after the assigned effective dates.,No effective date prior to June 23, 2011 has been established for the grant of service connection for warts. The earliest communication was on June 23, 2011.