Citation Nr: 18153083
Decision Date: 11/27/18	Archive Date: 11/27/18

DOCKET NO. 16-56 267
DATE:	November 27, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for migraine, including migraine variants and tension headaches, from July 28, 2014 until September 5, 2018, and an evaluation in excess of 30 percent as of that later date, is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active military service from August 1976 to August 1980.
The Veteran contends that he is entitled to higher ratings for his service-connected disability. In the October 2018 VA examination report, the examiner indicated that the Veteran suffered prostrating attacks of migraine/non-migraine headache pain; however, the examiner failed to check any of the follow-up boxes indicating how frequently the Veteran’s prostrating attacks occurred. This is a critical rating factor under the applicable diagnostic criteria, and completion of the examination is required.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
The Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) must contact the VA examiner who conducted the October 2018 examination (or a similar medical professional) and request an addendum opinion. The claims file, including a copy of this remand, must be reviewed by the opinion provider. The examiner must address the following:
a.)	What is the typical duration of the Veteran’s migraines or non-migraine headache pain?
b.)	What is the average frequency of the Veteran’s prostrating attacks of migraine/non-migraine headache pain (e.g. less frequent attacks, once in two months, once a month, more than once a month).
c.)	Does the Veteran have very prostrating and prolonged attacks of migraines/non-migraine pain productive of severe economic inadaptability? If so, how frequently?
For each finding, the examiner should specify the date of onset of the level of severity described. Whether an additional examination is required in this case is left to the discretion of the AOJ and the examiner, but it is not required by this remand.  
 
A. C. MACKENZIE
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Evan Thomas Hicks