Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA Vocational Rehabilitation records and scheduling a TDIU examination. The issues of service connection and entitlement to an initial disability rating are also pending.

The Veteran's appeals for an extraschedular evaluation for migraines and entitlement to TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination and opinion addressing his claim for TDIU, referral of his extraschedular evaluation claim to the Director of the VA Compensation Service, and additional VCAA notice.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for migraine headaches, left knee disorder, and flat feet. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to noise exposure during service, while his current migraine headaches are not considered related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted, with the exception of his request to reopen a claim for service connection for reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the bilateral upper extremities. The Veteran is currently receiving appropriate disability compensation for his PTSD, dysthymia, left shoulder disability, low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for service-connected tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the highest schedular rating available is 10 percent, and thus no higher rating could be granted.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle fracture warrants a rating of 20 percent, effective from the date of the initial claim. The other issues were not granted.

The Board denied all claims for service connection, finding that the Veteran's claimed conditions did not have their onset in or were not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for herniated discs at L4-5 and L5-S1, migraine headaches, and GERD. The evidence did not support higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and determined that a higher disability rating is warranted for the Veteran's left shoulder impingement/rotator cuff tendinitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected rhinitis, and he does not have a deviated septum or fatigue. The low back disorder was reopened on new evidence, but no other conditions were found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a pelvis disorder and unequal leg length was granted. However, the claims for increased ratings of his thoracolumbar spine strain, cervical spine strain, bilateral knee conditions, bilateral hip conditions, and bilateral hand tendonitis remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated medical records. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will be reconsidered after the completion of these actions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and bilateral carpel tunnel syndrome, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the severity of his chronic headaches.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis is rated at 10 percent, but the issues for increased ratings are denied.,The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are both rated at 10 percent. The issues for increased ratings are denied.,The Veteran's headaches are currently rated at 10 percent. The issue for an increased rating is denied.,The Veteran's decreased vision in the left eye with optic neuritis is rated at 10 percent. The issue for an increased rating is denied.,The Veteran's status post meningo encephalitis is rated at 10 percent. The issue for an increased rating is denied.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not service-connected and thus does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings and service connection claims were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for tension headaches, and her other claims were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of headaches and major depression have been reopened, and the Board finds that these conditions are related to her military service. The claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is remanded due to a potential exception in the regulations.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA standards. The Veteran's puretone thresholds have never met the criteria for a disability during this appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cluster headaches do not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable disability rating as they have been characterized by less frequent attacks than one in two months over the last several months.