Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the criteria for a TDIU have not been met.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for headaches. The Veteran's contentions have been consistent throughout, supported by her treating physician and various laypersons who are competent to report readily-observable facts. As a result, the claim will be granted on this basis.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a skin rash and remanded it for further development. The Veteran's claims for other conditions are also remanded.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for headaches should be January 16, 2001. The Veteran's claim was pending from his informal claim in January 2001 until the May 2011 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining an examination to assess his employability and considering whether all of his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), other than headaches, was denied. The Board found no probative evidence confirming the Veteran has any current disability related to TBI or that he had this alleged condition at any point since filing his claim.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for clarification of the August 2012 VA examination and additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and a compensable rating for headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing and consolidating evidence into claims files.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to his military service, including as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's chronic headaches were noted on his enlistment examination but did not have their clinical onset in service, did not increase in severity during service, and are not otherwise related to active duty or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis was granted a 10 percent rating prior to July 7, 2010. The appeal is denied for the remaining issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a VA examination. The case will also be referred to the Director of Compensation under 38 C.F.R. § 3.321(b)(1) if an extraschedular TDIU rating is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further VA examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including headache disorder, right hip disorder, respiratory disorder, skin disorder, and abnormal hairiness. The appeal will be considered again after these examinations.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for higher ratings for migraine headaches, vertigo, and acne rosacea prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including pituitary adenoma and its secondary effects. The appeal is currently remanded to obtain additional medical records and complete the necessary development.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a fractured skull are currently rated as 40 percent disabling prior to May 17, 2010 and 0 percent thereafter due to separate ratings for posttraumatic headaches and PTSD.,Posttraumatic headaches have been granted a compensable rating since November 7, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to his military service, specifically his in-service diagnosis of schizoid personality disorder. The Board also noted that there is no evidence of a headache condition during or after service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied. The Board found that the left thigh graft donor site scar, erectile dysfunction, and PTSD (previously diagnosed as panic disorder) did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.