Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a cold injury to the bilateral feet and migraine headaches, both previously denied. The evidence now shows that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a chronic disability or objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness in the Southwest Asia Theater during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, tinnitus, headaches, sciatica, and ulnar nerve disorder. The Veteran's service-connected back pain syndrome with Grade 1 L5-S1 spondylolisthesis is granted an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right and left knee disabilities, hypertension, asthma, right and left wrist disabilities, migraine headaches, allergic rhinitis, and erectile dysfunction, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background. As such, a TDIU is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical evidence from Camp Lejeune. The appellant is also required to provide any relevant VA or private treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and headaches. The claim for a TDIU will be held in abeyance pending adjudication of the increased rating claims.

The Board found that sinusitis with headaches, first documented after service, is unrelated to an injury or disease of service origin and not caused by or made worse by the service-connected residuals of in-service head injury.

The Board has granted service connection for a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom neurological illness, which encompasses all of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected tension headaches and chronic loss of consciousness, including seeking higher ratings for these conditions and earlier effective dates. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Board has determined that further development is required before the Veteran's claims are decided, including obtaining a discharge examination report and any other necessary development. The case will be remanded for de novo review.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches were granted a 30 percent rating effective September 30, 2007.,Beginning January 21, 2010, the Veteran was assigned a 50 percent disability rating for his service-connected migraine headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including implementing the Board's decision to increase his PTSD rating and clarifying the impact of all service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) as secondary to a low back disability, and also for migraines as secondary to the same low back disability.,The Veteran's depression is attributed to her service-connected low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and found that the Veteran's current cardiovascular, kidney, headache, and psychiatric disabilities are secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's chronic sinus disability with headaches was found to have been incurred during service. The Board granted service connection for this condition. For the issue of cecal intussusception, the Board remanded due to insufficient examination and lack of rationale.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and translating Spanish language documents. The issues of service connection for vertigo and a left shoulder condition are also pending.

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches are currently evaluated at 30 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for very frequent completely prostrating attacks productive of severe economic adaptability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's heart disability is not service connected, but his psychiatric disability (depression) may be secondary to his service-connected post-traumatic headaches.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of the grant of service connection.