Migraines & headaches decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for PTSD, chronic fatigue, joint pain in shoulders, hips, and elbows, headaches, back disability, and right knee disability are well-grounded. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the appellant's akinetic seizures, finding that at least one major seizure occurred in the last two years. The headaches and memory loss residuals were rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for headaches and a sinus disorder due to lack of medical evidence linking current conditions to service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and granted service connection for headaches, dizziness, and forgetfulness due to an undiagnosed illness. Service connection was also granted for a bowel disorder secondary to his service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus with subjective S1 radiculitis.

The veteran's service-connected headaches are manifested by disabling attacks once every month to once every two months with non-prostrating attacks once a week to once every two weeks. The Board grants an initial evaluation of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected headaches.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for migraine headaches, the maximum available under VA regulations. The veteran's service-connected migraines are characterized by very frequent and prolonged attacks that have significantly impacted her employment.

The veteran's migraine headaches are due to her service-connected right eye HSV keratitis. She also received a higher rating for her conjunctivitis and mouth sores from HSV, and was granted a temporary total convalescent rating for the period of July 2, 1997 through December 31, 1997.

The veteran's service-connected myofascial syndrome of the lumbosacral spine and headache do not constitute an employment handicap, thus he does not meet the eligibility requirement for vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected left middle ear exploration with tube insertion and for service connection for headaches secondary to that condition. The decision stated that the veteran did not have surgery on his left ear in service, and thus he could not have a compensable disability related to this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a jeep accident, including multiple joint injuries, situational stress with anxiety, and headaches due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder and an increased evaluation for her back pain of the thoracolumbar spine were denied. The RO was directed to obtain additional medical records, conduct further examinations, and readjudicate the claims.

The veteran's headaches are rated at 30 percent, and her left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's migraine headaches are not related to service and denied his claim.

The Board denied increased ratings for esophageal reflux and ocular migraines, finding that the current ratings of 30 percent and 20 percent, respectively, adequately reflect the veteran's disability.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claims of service connection for a low back disorder and headaches, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted since the final November 1994 RO decision.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, including headaches and a seizure disorder. The Board found that there was no medical evidence establishing a link between her current conditions and the inservice head injury.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for hypertension, headaches, rash, abdominal disability, joint disability, and hair loss are not well-grounded. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is considered well-grounded.

The veteran's PTSD and headaches are currently rated at the maximum available disability evaluations, with no further increase granted.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current conditions and his service, including the grenade explosion in November 1950. The claims for headaches, tinnitus, and right eye disorder were denied as not well grounded.