Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's migraines are rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 50 percent since April 21, 2015. His cervical spine disability is rated as 20 percent disabling from May 7, 2012 onwards.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of traumatic brain injury with headaches and PTSD have been granted a 30 percent rating effective from September 29, 2011. The decision also addressed the Veteran's increased rating claim for his headaches after this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tension headaches are related to her military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been productive of prostrating attacks occurring three to seven times a month, lasting for several days at a time. The Board has determined that the criteria for a 50 percent rating are met throughout the entire rating period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, left knee pain, and bilateral ankle sprains were denied as they are not related to service. The claim for increased evaluation of migraines prior to March 4, 2013 was also denied.

The Veteran's fatigue is presumed to be related to his service in the Persian Gulf, while his headaches are not considered due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at the highest possible rating under the applicable criteria, but his lumbar spine disorder does not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,His migraine headaches are currently rated as 30 percent disabling and do not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the Veteran's increased rating claims for PTSD, hernia residuals, TBI, and headaches are remanded due to outstanding evidence.

The Board found no evidence of a traumatic brain injury or its residuals, and denied service connection for headaches and depression as they are not related to the appellant's active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to a June 2014 VA examiner's opinion not providing sufficient information on the relationship between his current disabilities and military service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for headaches, COPD (claimed as emphysema and lungs), and bilateral knee disability. The new evidence received since the final decisions does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a request for a DRO hearing, and no steps have been taken to address this request. The case is now returned to the Board.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the highest schedular rating of 50 percent, effective September 22, 2009. The claim for an earlier effective date for sciatic and left peroneal and tibial nerve involvement is dismissed as service connection was already granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinea pedis, right ear hearing loss, and headaches have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to unavailability of service treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for COPD was granted, and he is entitled to compensation based on exposure to environmental hazards during his service in the Persian Gulf War. The other issues were not addressed due to lack of information.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches was denied. The Board found that from July 1, 2010 through September 27, 2011, the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent were not met. From September 28, 2011 through October 1, 2012, the Veteran's migraine headaches met the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation. The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 30 percent from October 2, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The preponderance of evidence indicates that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his right knee disability, and therefore, secondary service connection for headaches is denied.

The Veteran's TBI residuals have resulted in a score of no more than '1' on the table for Evaluation of Cognitive Impairment and Other Residuals of TBI Not Otherwise Classified, resulting in an initial rating in excess of 10 percent not being met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess her need for aid and attendance and whether she is housebound due to service-connected disabilities.