Migraines & headaches decisions — 2000

The veteran's central serous chorioretinopathy with macular detachment of both eyes and migraine headaches are not rated higher than the current 10% evaluations since April 24, 1994.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected cervical spine fracture of body of C5 with residual deformity and secondary headaches is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and treatment records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for loss of balance, blurred vision, headaches, numbness in the hands, pain in the hips, a bilateral knee disorder and a bilateral ankle disorder are not well grounded.

The veteran's multiple disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes based on his service-connected conditions, as they are not of sufficient severity to render him permanently unemployable.

The veteran's claims for disability compensation and service connection are denied as there is no competent medical evidence to support the onset or aggravation of his claimed conditions during his VA hospitalizations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with arthritis, chondromalacia of the left knee, and chondromalacia of the right knee. The veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for his lumbosacral strain with arthritis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for ophthalmic migraines, finding that the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical disc disease and head injury residuals, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and dizziness, as well as for increased ratings for bilateral wrist injuries, are not well grounded. The claim for service connection is denied due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his period of active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating for skin rash, service connection for hair loss, headaches, memory loss, irritability, and lethargy as they were not well grounded.

The veteran's skin condition, stomach problems, migraine headaches, dysthymic disorder, and allergic rhinitis are not service-connected. The joint pain is considered a chronic disability due to undiagnosed illness as per the Persian Gulf War criteria. Residuals of a hysterectomy are also considered a chronic disability due to undiagnosed illness.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 80 percent for the veteran's seizure disorder with headaches, finding that he meets the criteria for this rating based on more than 10 minor seizures per week.

The veteran's service-connected cervical spine disorder, chronic low back muscular strain with arthritis, and postoperative residuals of a ganglion cyst with synovitis of the left wrist are all rated at their maximum allowable evaluations. The veteran's headaches as residual of concussion remain rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, tinnitus, and headaches were denied. Service connection for PTSD was granted with a 30% rating effective November 18, 1987, which was later increased to 50% from November 6, 1995 through January 3, 2000, and to 70% effective January 4, 2000.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and denied service connection for a stomach disorder with indigestion. The veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 10 percent, while her basal cell carcinoma excision scars are not assigned any compensable rating.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, concluding that the submitted evidence did not bear directly on whether his current conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a frozen ear, cervical spine disability, nose disability with impaired breathing, and facial injury, to include scars and headaches are not well grounded. The evidence does not support these claims.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for conversion reaction including migraine headaches is denied as a matter of law due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for narcolepsy, gastroenteritis, headaches, and bilateral defective hearing as new and material evidence was not submitted.