Migraines & headaches decisions — 2000

The veteran's undifferentiated somatoform disorder, anxiety attacks, and stress fracture of the right leg are rated at 10 percent each. The veteran is granted a rating in excess of zero percent for migraine headaches.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between the veteran's presbyopia and headaches, which he claims are related to his service, specifically an injury sustained in April 1979. The preponderance of evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a cervical strain with right upper extremity weakness and headaches are reasonably related to service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various symptoms as chronic disabilities resulting from an undiagnosed illness have been denied.

The veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for his service-connected status-post traumatic brain injury with residual memory loss, headaches and decreased motor skills, right side, is denied due to the need for a current VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that his suicide was not due to a service-connected disability and thus denying the claim.

The Board has restored the veteran's 30 percent disability rating for post-traumatic headaches, finding that his condition has not improved and thus warranting restoration of the previous rating.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and increased evaluations for chondromalacia of the left knee, right knee, arthralgia of the left knee, and arthralgia of the right knee. The post-operative excision of loose body, right shoulder, with arthralgia is also rated at 40 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and dyshidrosis of the fingers, finding that the current evaluations were appropriate given the symptoms described.

The Board found that the veteran's headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by service and are not etiologically related to a service-connected disability, thus denying his claim for secondary service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, but he was granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent for post-traumatic headaches. The other claims remain pending.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral defective vision and headaches due to new evidence submitted since the final denial in 1943. The claims are now pending on their merits.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder, secondary to the veteran's service-connected duodenal ulcer.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, headaches, and sleeping difficulty. The noncompensable rating assigned for his atypical chest pain was also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for left foot and ankle disabilities, but not for migraine headaches. The veteran's claims are still pending.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depression and somatoform disorder, IBS, GERD, headaches, and hemorrhoids, are found to be of such severity as to preclude her from obtaining or retaining a substantially gainful occupation. The combined rating for these conditions meets the criteria for TDIU.

The veteran's headaches are found to be secondary to PTSD. His skin condition is considered to have been incurred during service, and his stomach disorder is determined to be related to PTSD. The veteran's PTSD remains at a 30 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current migraine headaches and recurrent dizziness are not related to her period of service, and her low back disorder is not related to her military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a bilateral eye disorder related to her period of service and denied her claim for service connection. The claims for service connection for bilateral foot disorder and headaches are addressed in the remand part of this decision.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for depression was granted, and the other two issues regarding degenerative changes at L5-S1 with disc bulge and migraine headaches were not addressed in this decision.