Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD related to his military service and established a causal nexus between current symptomatology and the claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for hypokalemia has been withdrawn. The claims for bilateral feet, ankle, and right knee disabilities have not met the requirements for service connection as there is no credible evidence of current disability or in-service incurrence/aggravation. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied on both direct and secondary bases.

The Veteran's left shoulder strain and migraines are not rated higher than the current 10 percent assigned, as there is no evidence of dislocation or ankylosis. The Veteran's migraines do not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to their frequency.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for service connection for headaches and for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability. The claim of reopening a cervical spine disability was also denied, as no current cervical spine disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for dermatitis is granted as it began during a period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and thus meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lower back condition due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and left ear hearing loss is established with right ear hearing loss also being established.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault. The event leading to his death (cerebral hemorrhage due to atherosclerotic vascular disease) was not reasonably foreseeable.

The Veteran met the schedular criteria for a TDIU on October 30, 2009, and his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The effective date of the TDIU rating is set at October 30, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of service connection for a back disability, increase rating for post traumatic headaches, and effective date earlier than May 27, 2009 for the granting of a 10 percent rating for a service connected residual scar have not proceeded further.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for facial scars, head injuries/headaches, and bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and related acquired psychiatric disability, but denied the other issues on appeal. The Veteran's in-service stressor of falling from a rope during boot camp is considered sufficient to support his PTSD diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, and her increased rating claim for migraine headaches was granted with a maximum schedular evaluation of 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an inadequate VA examination and for obtaining additional medical records. The appellant's need for aid and attendance is being evaluated.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for migraine headaches was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable initial rating prior to May 6, 2014 or any rating in excess of 50 percent after that date.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines have been rated at 30 percent since February 26, 2014. The rating is based on the severity of his symptoms and their impact on work.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and the need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's headaches.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee and cervical spine disorders, as well as his claim for an increased rating for left knee disability, were denied. However, the Veteran was granted a 60% rating for post-total replacement of the left knee.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes due to bilateral hearing loss, and thus denied service connection for this condition.,Service connection was also denied for tinnitus as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a nexus between the Veteran's current tinnitus and his military service.

The Board dismissed all claims for service connection due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals, which was deemed effective when received by the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, but effective dates earlier than the assigned dates are determined to be appropriate.,For headaches and gastrointestinal disability, service connection was established on a direct basis.