Citation Nr: 18149582
Decision Date: 11/09/18	Archive Date: 11/09/18

DOCKET NO. 17-47 975
DATE:	November 9, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for migraine headaches is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for migraine headaches is remanded.
The Veteran served on active duty from September 1992 to July 1999. 
The Veteran was afforded a VA examination to assess his service-connected migraine headaches in February 2017, at which time the examiner indicated that the Veteran’s migraines did not impact his ability to work.  Thereafter, however, the Veteran asserted that her migraines have worsened (are more frequent, are debilitating, and affect her judgment, memory, thinking, and ability to reason).  This symptomatology is supported by private treatment records which show migraine problems occurring daily and consisting of confusion, problems with social functioning, unsteady gait, vision changes, and throbbing pain (See July 2012, June 2016, and November 2017 Rapha Primary Care Center records)—but are in contrast with the February 2017 VA examiner’s findings.  Consequently, the Board finds that the medical evidence of record is not sufficient to adjudicate the Veteran’s migraine headache disability claim and that a new VA examination is required.  Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400, 403 (1997). 
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1.  Make reasonable efforts to obtain any outstanding VA and private treatment records, to include VA treatment records dated after April 2018.  With the Veteran’s assistance, if needed, obtain copies of any pertinent records and add them to the claims file.  
2.  After the above development has been completed, schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to assess the nature/severity of his migraine headaches.  All necessary tests should be performed, and the results should be reported.  All symptomatology associated with the migraine headaches should be reported.
On review of the record and examination/interview of the Veteran, the examiner should describe the nature frequency, and severity of her migraines.  Specifically, the examiner should indicate whether there are prostrating attacks and, if so, how often such attacks occur.  The examiner should also opine as the functional 





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impairment that the Veteran has as a result of her migraines.  A rationale for all conclusions and opinions expressed should be provided. 
 
THERESA M. CATINO
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	P. E. Metzner, Associate Counsel