Migraines & headaches decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are well grounded, but denied on the merits. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted and others not.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's lumbosacral strain and found that his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment. The appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, as there was no medical evidence linking his current conditions to his active service or chemical exposure.

The veteran's psychiatric disorder, headaches, and skin lesions were not found to be related to service. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for headaches, fatigue, low back disorder, right knee disorder, epididymitis, and sinusitis due to an undiagnosed illness are not well grounded as there is no evidence of such conditions in service or post-service. The veteran's current symptoms were attributed to his pre-existing cervical strain.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for heart problems, headaches, joint and muscle pain, loss of memory, a sleep disorder, and chronic fatigue are not well grounded. The claims will be denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of esophageal dysphasia and an increased rating for headaches as residuals of GSW to the skull and brain. The veteran's esophageal dysphasia was not found to be related to his period of active service, while his headaches were rated at 20 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well grounded and denied them.

The Board granted service connection for somatoform pain disorder (claimed as depression) as secondary to the veteran's service-connected disability and increased the rating for chronic tension headaches from noncompensable to 30 percent.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected headaches, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for dengue fever, malaria and dysentery, residuals of a blast concussion (headaches), left leg injury, and PTSD. The RO also granted service connection for PTSD with an initial disability rating of 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease and found that the veteran's claims for reopening his claims of service connection for headaches and residuals of a chest injury were not well-grounded.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, claimed as headaches and dizziness, was granted. The case is remanded to the RO for completion of the requested hearing before the Board.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a disability characterized by headaches as not well-grounded.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment. The RO will also consider whether an extraschedular rating for the left knee disability should be assigned.

The veteran's service-connected right shoulder disorder, tension headaches, and cervical spine disorder are each evaluated at the minimum (10%) level. The RO has not granted any higher evaluations for these conditions.

The RO denied higher initial evaluations for the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including headaches, degenerative arthritis of the lower lumbar spine, tinnitus, residuals of a fracture of the ulna, and hemorrhoids. The claims for sinusitis, stomach disorder, labyrinthitis, otitis media, right wrist disorder, and lung disorder with sleep disturbances are not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for back disorder, neck disorder, headaches, left hip disorder, and right knee disorder are well grounded. The evidence supports a finding of secondary service connection for these conditions based on their relationship to his service-connected recurrent left ankle sprain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a cervical spine injury, bilateral patello-femoral syndrome, and periostitis (shin splints). The claim for migraine headaches was granted with a 30 percent evaluation effective from June 1997.