Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's headaches, which are prostrating and occur more than once a month over the last several months, have been rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal of the appeals related to right ear hearing loss, migraine headaches as residuals of a traumatic brain injury, and left ear hearing loss. The remaining claims are TDIU and increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical examinations and develop the claims for increased ratings for PTSD, migraine headaches, and TDIU. The VA will also seek any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis and migraine headaches are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings of 10% for allergic rhinitis and 30% for migraines.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn, and the claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no legal basis for assignment of any earlier effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are not manifested by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, thus the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for review of additional evidence submitted by his wife. The claim will be reconsidered and a decision will be made based on this new information.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The case will be reviewed again after the requested information is obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claimed autoimmune disorder, fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, sleep disturbance, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The examiner must address the relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at the 10 percent level since September 2, 2010. The Board finds that her headache disability meets the criteria for a 10 percent rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including hypertension, migraine headaches, heart disease, and kidney disease, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's migraine headaches result in very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks, leading to severe economic inadaptability. A 50% disability rating has been granted.

The Veteran is found to have residuals of a traumatic brain injury, including headaches, tinnitus, and imbalance, which are considered service-connected.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches is granted, and his increased rating claim for fractures of the right ring and little fingers remains pending.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is found to be service-connected, as it constitutes a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness related to her service in the Persian Gulf. The Veteran's trigeminal neuralgia and migraines are also found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's additional disability, including headaches and impaired balance due to residuals of two craniotomies for a left cerebellar meningioma, is not deemed to be caused by VA treatment. The Board finds that the delay in diagnosis was not due to VA fault.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a head injury have been rated at 10 percent since May 21, 2009. The VA examiner found no evidence of dementia or other psychiatric conditions related to the in-service head injury and concluded that the Veteran does not meet criteria for an initial rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to September 25, 2009 and from September 25, 2009 through February 22, 2012. From February 23, 2012, the Veteran is entitled to a 20 percent evaluation for his lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's migraine headaches were rated at 10 percent prior to February 23, 2012 and are currently rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence, including verification of his periods of active military service and VA examinations.