Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine disability and sleep apnea are service connected as they were incurred during his active duty.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since November 27, 2009. The rating for his post-concussion syndrome with residual headaches is unknown due to the lack of a clear service connection theory.

The Veteran's service-connected IBS renders him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the claim for major depressive disorder is no longer in dispute. Service connection has been established for a spinal disability (S1 grade 1 spondylolisthesis with symptomatology that manifested within one year of separation from active duty). The Veteran's weight loss condition does not manifest during or as a result of active military service, and the claim for chest pain is reopened but denied. Evidence received since the September 1997 rating decision is both new and material and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder pain, bilateral knee pain, headaches, and sinusitis.

The Veteran is granted service connection for migraines and cervical spine disability, but denied service connection for left elbow disability. Service connection was established for migraines due to continuity of symptoms since service. The Board found no credible evidence linking the current cervical spine or left elbow disabilities to service.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder disorders, as well as his migraine headaches and stomach disorder (Barrett's Esophagus with Gastritis and Esophagitis), are considered to be due to undiagnosed illnesses or other qualifying chronic disabilities related to service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.,The Veteran served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, which includes Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and airspace above these locations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for service connection for restless leg syndrome, a headache disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral hip disorder prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches and residuals of cystic acne vulgaris has been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of headaches, which is related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety), a seizure disorder, and migraine headaches. The effective date of any future grant of service connection would be determined based on when the application was filed.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal before a decision could be made.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including dysthymic disorder with anxiety, bipolar disorder, and a personality disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records, as well as a new rating decision based on the updated evidence.

The Veteran's initial claim for headaches was denied in 1997 and reopened in 2012. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at January 9, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, headache disability, and GERD have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. The headaches are rated at 30% since they cause more than one migraine per month but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of severe economic inadaptability. The GERD has required continuous medication but does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board has determined that an effective date of August 13, 2008 is warranted for the award of a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded all claims due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ectatic AICA with facial neuralgia and migraine headaches are service connected, as they were first manifested during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected post-concussion headaches have been found to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining any type of gainful employment since June 1, 2004. As the date of claim was later than the date entitlement arose, an effective date of June 1, 2004 is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a disability due to central nervous system ischemic changes and an earlier effective date for coronary artery disease were denied. The claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic headaches and cognitive impairment from TBI, are found to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 18, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional compensation benefits based on recognition of his spouse, children, and stepchild is denied as a matter of law.