Migraines & headaches decisions — 2000

The veteran's tinea cruris was found to have its onset in service and is granted service connection. The claim for headaches, fatigue, insomnia, and syncopal episodes is not well-grounded as there are no objective indicators of an undiagnosed illness. Service connection for neck pain is also granted due to a diagnosed condition.

The veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for migraine headaches has been denied as there is no evidence of prostrating attacks or significant impairment.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 30 percent for the veteran's residuals of a head injury to include dementia and ice pick headaches, effective from August 29, 1997.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the veteran's evaluation for service-connected migraine headaches with vision condition from 10 percent to noncompensable, effective March 1, 1997, was proper.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder, low back disorder, kidney disorder (claimed as hematuria), prostate disorder, lung disorder, and migraine headaches. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current disability associated with headaches is related to a head injury sustained during his second period of active service in July 1990, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for residuals of a head injury with headaches, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 8045.

The veteran's claims for service connection for skin rash, non-specific gastritis, and headaches as due to undiagnosed illness are not well grounded. His claims for direct service connection for ear condition, prostate nodule, and actinic keratoses are also not well grounded.

The veteran's chronic and severe headaches are rated at a 10 percent evaluation, the highest non-compensable rating available.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for migraine headaches, a left ear injury with hearing loss, and a scar over the right eye. They also denied his secondary service connection claims for obesity and residuals from injuries sustained in October 1964, November 1975, November 1981, and September 1986.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 80 percent for the veteran's epilepsy with headaches, effective from August 31, 1994. The claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for adhesive capsulitis of the right shoulder, gastroesophageal reflux disorder, duodenal ulcer disease, cervical spine disability, and a disorder of the right hand characterized as numbness, ulnar nerve. The rating assigned is 20% for lumbosacral strain.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his head trauma with migraine headaches is granted, and he is now rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, the residuals of a back injury, and headaches, depression, ulcers, stomach problems, and anxiety attacks due to lack of competent medical evidence establishing these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of entitlement to secondary service connection for headaches is well grounded and granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and thus denied her claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his headache disorder and low back disability, as well as service connection for joint pain, muscle soreness, aches, weakness, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and skin rash due to undiagnosed illnesses. The evidence did not support an evaluation greater than 10 percent for headaches or a rating greater than 20 percent for the low back disability.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 30 percent for the service-connected post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the cervical spine with wedging of C5, effective from March 1998. The veteran's headaches are rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 8045.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected residuals of a head injury with headaches and anxiety was denied by the VA Regional Office.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, asthma, and chronic sinusitis. The rating assigned for right shoulder disability is 20 percent. Service connection for migraine headaches and organic disability manifested by chronic abdominal pain remains in controversy.