Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further review due to a hearing request not being fulfilled. The Veteran's appeal is currently in process and will be returned to the Board after the requested hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental clinical opinion regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether his headaches in service were due to sleep apnea. The appeal is currently pending.

The Veteran's hypertension, requiring continuous blood pressure medication, warrants a 10 percent initial rating. His headaches have been manifested by very frequent characteristic prostrating attacks and warrant an initial 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on December 23, 2011, at the Shands Jacksonville Medical Center were not authorized in advance and did not meet the criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of cluster headaches and that there is no medical evidence linking tension or migraine headaches to his service-connected corneal scar. The Board denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's left eye disability, acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and headaches are not service-connected as they were either not incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Veteran's muscle tension headaches have been manifested by frequent prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability since VA received her claim for an increased rating in December 1997. The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected headache disorder, effective from December 15, 1997.

The Veteran's cluster headaches are currently rated at 50 percent, effective November 9, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for osteochondritis of the right ankle, right wrist strain, and traumatic brain injury with residual post-concussion headaches were denied. The appeals are based on direct service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, headaches, meningitis, septicemia, and sinusitis. The evidence submitted was found to be cumulative or redundant and did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating any of these claims.

The Veteran's daughter was born in November 2006, and he became entitled to additional compensation for his child as of the date of her birth. However, he did not submit information about this until September 21, 2009, which is when VA received a completed VA Form 21-686c from him. Therefore, the effective date for the award of additional compensation based on a dependent child was October 1, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraine headaches as service connection was decided on the merits.

The Veteran's current headache disability was incurred in service and the Board finds that his lay testimony is both competent and credible, granting service connection for headaches.

The Veteran's service connection for a TBI is granted, as the evidence shows that his current residuals are due to pre-existing conditions. The issue of lower extremity nerve disability remains unresolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active service and have therefore denied all claims.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches were granted, and his right ring finger fracture residuals and scar are rated at the minimum levels.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's headaches and his service, as well as other issues. The Veteran will need a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's TDIU claim for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and employment information. The case will be reviewed again based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a skin disability and a rating in excess of 20 percent for his L5-S1 fusion was denied. The Board found no evidence to support the claims, including that there is no nexus between current headaches and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and a pulmonary disorder due to incomplete history provided in the VA examination reports. The Veteran is also asked to authorize VA to obtain his private medical records from Dr. Kravatz.