Migraines & headaches decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left knee impairment and her service connection claim for this condition is denied. The claims of entitlement to service connection for back pain and migraine headaches are also denied as there is no competent evidence of these conditions during or after service.

The veteran withdrew his appeal, so the case is dismissed without prejudice.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 22, 1998 for the award of a 50 percent disability rating for post-concussion syndrome with recurrent headaches is being remanded due to incomplete records from VA facilities in Washington and Alaska.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a skull fracture, characterized as headaches, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed headache disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a T-6 compression fracture warrant an increased evaluation to 60 percent, effective from August 18, 1992.

The Board has determined that the veteran's headaches were not incurred or aggravated during active duty service, or caused or aggravated by any service-connected disability.

The Board found no service connection for the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for traumatic headaches.

The veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are of such severity as to preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches and assigned a 10 percent rating effective from August 3, 2000. The other claims of service connection remain pending.

The Board has denied service connection for fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and skin rash due to undiagnosed illness. Service connection is pending for headaches and dizziness.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% due to significant impairment in social and occupational functioning, but the other conditions are not service-connected.

The Board has granted a 20% evaluation for hypertension since March 1, 1998. The veteran's headaches are being remanded to determine if they are related to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has granted a higher (50 percent) evaluation for the veteran's headaches, effective from November 4, 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, dysthymic disorder, joint and muscle pain, diarrhea, fatigue, respiratory condition (clogged head), memory loss, headaches, and sleep disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence of a diagnosed PTSD or other chronic conditions related to Gulf War service.

The case is being remanded for additional development and assistance to the veteran, including obtaining pertinent VA and private medical records and scheduling appropriate VA special examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for frontal headaches, pseudotumor cerebral, post-operative (claimed as fluid on the brain surgery) because no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, left knee disability, deviated septum, and cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disorders. The decision also noted that the veteran's claim for increased rating of his temporomandibular dysfunction with headaches was granted.

The veteran's service-connected tension headaches are manifested by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks that are productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50% evaluation.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain additional medical records and conduct examinations to determine if the veteran's current disabilities are related to his active service, including a jeep accident in Germany.