Migraines & headaches decisions — 2000

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and increased evaluations for residuals of a right eye injury, nonspecific urethritis, and prostatitis. The claim for kidney and bladder calculus was denied as not well-grounded.

The veteran's tinnitus, headaches, bilateral hearing loss and perforated tympanic membrane have been granted a 10 percent evaluation each.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hemorrhoids, headaches, and a deviated nasal septum. The claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder was dismissed due to lack of timely appeal. Service connection for a left elbow disability was not reopened as it had already been denied in 1982.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches as not well-grounded due to a lack of current medical evidence linking the condition to an in-service head injury.

The Board found that the appellant's claims for service connection for headaches, a skin condition of the feet, and sneezing and itching eyes are not well-grounded because there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board denied an extra-schedular evaluation for the veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, finding that there was no evidence showing marked interference with employment or frequent hospitalizations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for retroactive payment of a clothing allowance and service connection for gastrointestinal symptoms, memory loss, sleep disorder, vision problems, headaches, weight loss, and chest pains due to undiagnosed illness. The appeals were not well-grounded as there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to service or undiagnosed illnesses.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches as secondary to a shell fragment wound and for increased ratings for his shell fragment wounds. The veteran was not granted service connection for headaches, but his existing service-connected conditions were evaluated.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a well-grounded claim for cerebral concussion with headaches, residual SFW scar on the scalp, or cervical arthritis. For the compensable evaluation of SFW residuals of the left chest, there was no tenderness or functional impairment. Multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities prior to September 12, 1997 did not interfere with employment. The veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans' Insurance (RH) was denied due to his health conditions.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's headaches to his service-connected enucleation of the left eye, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are well-grounded and will be reviewed on their merits. The veteran is entitled to service connection for headaches, but not for multiple joint arthritis or arteriosclerotic heart disease.

The VA has denied the claims of increased evaluation for anxiety neurosis with psychotic features, service connection for prostate cancer with metastases, low back disorder, and headaches. The appellant's psychiatric condition is rated at 30 percent under the schedular criteria.

The veteran's chronic headaches were found to have been aggravated by his service in the Persian Gulf War, and thus he is granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for migraine headaches was denied because he failed to report for a required VA medical examination without good cause.

The veteran's cluster headaches were rated at 30 percent prior to October 11, 1996. From that date, the claim for a higher rating was denied as his daily headaches did not meet the criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, increased ratings for right femur fracture with post-traumatic arthritis of the hip, chronic lumbosacral strain, and right hand disability were denied. The claim for TDIU was not addressed in this decision.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current headache disorder and athlete's feet to military service or events coincident therewith, thus denying the claims for service connection.

The Board found no evidence linking the appellant's hypertension and headaches to his service-connected panic disorder, thus denying the claims for service connection.

The Board granted service connection for migraines, hypertensive coronary artery disease, sleep apnea, hiatal hernia with reflux, and prostatitis. The veteran was assigned a 10 percent rating for migraines, a 50 percent rating for sleep apnea, and a noncompensable rating for the other conditions.

The veteran's disability of the lumbar spine, including neurological symptoms and weakness in the upper extremities, is now rated at 60 percent. The claim for service connection for headaches has been granted.