Migraines & headaches decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is not well grounded.,The appellant's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is found to be well grounded.

The veteran's service-connected mixed tension/vascular headaches are currently productive of characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over the past several months, warranting a 30% evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral plantar warts and compensable rating for hemorrhoids, as well as his service connection claims for nerve damage to the hands and wrists (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome), dizziness (claimed as vertigo and a black-out seizure disorder), and headaches. The clothing allowance claim was denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an eye condition, heart disorder, GERD, hypertension, recurrent headaches, and intestinal disorder are not well-grounded. The Board denied these claims as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service disease or injury that could be linked to current disabilities.

The veteran is granted a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to service-connected conditions affecting multiple joints, including the right hip and left hip. The special home adaptation grant claim is denied as it would be precluded by the benefits already awarded under section 2101(a).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a chronic skin disorder, kidney disorder, vision problems, numbness of the legs, and headaches as the result of exposure to herbicides during service. The evidence did not meet the threshold requirement for well-grounded claims.

The Board denied reopening of the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches, as well as his claim for a higher evaluation for low back disorder. The evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen any of these claims.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for chondromalacia patella of the right knee and muscle tension headaches have been granted, with a rating of 10 percent for each condition.

The Board finds that the veteran's claims for service connection are well-grounded as they present credible evidence of undiagnosed illnesses resulting in chronic disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded as there is no competent evidence linking his symptoms to an undiagnosed illness or any other condition.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claims for PTSD, headaches (claimed as residuals of head trauma), and lower back disability. The RO's decisions remain final.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches, dizziness and vertigo as there was no medical evidence showing a current disability or linking any symptomatology to military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for his gastrointestinal disability (Duodenal Ulcer, Gastric Ulcers and Hiatal Hernia) was denied. His disfiguring scar of the right temporal region postoperative remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for lupus, bilateral hip disorder, migraine headaches, and lumbar spine disorder are not well grounded. There is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is denied as she does not meet the criteria for either condition.

The Board determined that the preponderance of the evidence did not support an increase in the original evaluations assigned for the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypothyroidism, low back, migraine headache, right knee, left knee, left shoulder, and left wrist disabilities. The RO had initially assigned zero percent (noncompensable) evaluations, which were later changed to 10 percent.

The Board found no additional disability resulting from the veteran's slip and fall at a VA medical facility in May 1993, thus denying his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's claimed conditions, including muscle aches, heart and chest pain, memory loss, anxiety and nervousness, respiratory disorder, joint pain, fatigue, sleep disorder, and headaches, were not found to be related to his period of active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic headaches, including as secondary to service-connected hearing loss of the right ear, is not well-grounded.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an increased evaluation of posttraumatic headaches and service connection for a right arm/shoulder disorder, finding that he did not establish veteran status for purposes of these claims.