Migraines & headaches decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected status post aortic valve replacement disability, finding that it did not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a well-grounded claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.,PTSD was not established as the veteran did not provide specific verified stressors in service.

The Board denied a claim for an increased rating for migraines, finding that the highest schedular evaluation (50%) had already been assigned and that there was no evidence of marked interference with employment beyond what was contemplated by this rating.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches and peripheral vestibulopathy, including tinnitus, nystagmus, dizziness, and vomiting as residuals of a head injury. The effective date was set at December 20, 1988.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and service connection issues due to lack of timely filed substantive appeals. The claim for service connection for headaches is not well grounded.

The Board found that an earlier effective date for the total rating based upon individual unemployability was not warranted as there was no evidence of service-connected unemployability prior to October 14, 1994.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for depression, headaches, insomnia, muscle spasms, and dizziness are not well-grounded as they do not meet the criteria for service connection under direct or presumptive provisions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of evidence and because the veteran did not file claims prior to the specified dates.

The veteran's post-concussion syndrome, with headaches, dizziness and syncope, has been rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the disability is not severe enough to warrant a higher rating under the applicable rating code. However, due to the interference of his symptoms on employment, the veteran was unable to work steadily since service discharge. The case will be remanded for consideration of an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy of the hands and feet, a skin disorder, a stomach disorder, dizziness, and headaches, all claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed disabilities, including a bilateral ankle disability, head injury, right arm condition, headaches, and bilateral knee condition. The claims were not well-grounded due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed back injury and headaches are not related to his active military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his post-neck injury headaches and chronic cervical strain, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating than what was already assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected headaches, finding that his headaches did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the schedular standards.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, including as secondary to a neck injury or as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim was not well-grounded.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in acquiring an automobile or other conveyance or special adaptive equipment due to lack of loss of use, impairment of vision, or ankylosis.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a service-connected condition for bilateral hearing loss. For other conditions, the claims are denied as they do not meet the criteria for increased ratings.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including bipolar disorder, asthma with obstructive disease, sensory nerve entrapment of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, headaches, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, were denied. The RO found that none of these conditions warranted a rating in excess of the current assigned ratings.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, including headaches and blackouts. The issue of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for postoperative residuals of ventral hernia remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hand disability, headaches claimed as migraines, and a bilateral leg disability are not well-grounded.