Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain service treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury has been granted. The Board also found that the Veteran experiences headaches and memory impairment related to his TBI incurred in active service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including residuals of a right leg injury, respiratory disorder (pulmonary emboli), syncope (fainting spells), headaches, chest disorder due to exposure to paint fumes, and laceration of the left middle finger. The decision was based on direct service connection without any presumption or secondary relationship.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability and migraine headaches are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service injury. The Veteran's migraines do not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating under DC 8100.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and depression) have been denied as there is no competent evidence of a current disability or persistent symptoms related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, which she first mentioned in her September 2006 letter, is granted with an effective date of September 20, 2006.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral knee pains, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, and related conditions are granted. Service connection is also granted for fibromyalgia.

The Board has granted service connection for meningioma and headaches, finding that the conditions are related to active duty service. The claim for tinea versicolor is still pending.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a chronic jaw disability or headaches during service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right shoulder radiculopathy, and chronic headaches are all found to be related to her service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's cluster headaches are manifested by several episodes a month with one to two days requiring rest, but have not resulted in very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The Board finds that the criteria for an initial disability rating of 30 percent, but not higher, for cluster headaches have been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his headache disability and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic headaches have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent since June 23, 2011. The Board found that her symptoms warranted this highest rating due to very frequent and prolonged attacks causing severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected headaches from April 17, 2005 to October 23, 2008 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show severe economic inadaptability due to the headaches alone.

The Veteran's tension headaches were found to be severe enough to warrant a 30 percent rating from April 2, 2004 through April 4, 2012.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for stomach, left knee, right knee, and headache disorders.,As such, the original denial of service connection remains in effect.

The Veteran's current hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical degenerative disc disease with disc herniation, headaches, and bilateral shoulder condition are not considered to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or being permanently housebound.

The Board has granted service connection for head trauma (headaches) and a scar from shrapnel wound to the right forearm, finding that new evidence supports the claim. The Veteran's headaches have been found to be related to his military service, and he is now eligible for compensation.

The Veteran's occipital neuralgia with chronic right sided headaches disability picture more nearly approximates characteristic prostrating attacks occurring approximately once each month since February 7, 2008.,The Veteran's headaches do not result in very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.