Migraines & headaches decisions — 2000

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, as there was no medical evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as they lack supporting medical evidence and do not meet the plausibility threshold.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and ear dysfunction, including earaches and tinnitus, on a direct or secondary basis. Service connection was granted for anxiety disorder with depressive features and scar on the anterior throat, but both were rated at their minimum levels.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The veteran has presented competent medical evidence suggesting a link between his service-connected shell fragment wound of the right cheek and his current headaches.,The veteran has also presented competent medical evidence suggesting a link between his service-connected shell fragment wound of the right cheek and a sinus disorder.,The veteran has not presented any competent evidence linking his current skin rash to his period of service or to exposure to herbicide agents.

The veteran's PTSD is granted, and his claims for headaches, sleep problems, and ulcers due to Agent Orange exposure are also granted. His right ear hearing loss disability remains at a non-compensable level.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right elbow epicondylitis was incurred during his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, chest pain (claimed as residual of fracture of the chest bone), hearing loss in right ear, scar on right upper eyelid (claimed as residual of head injury), and a back disorder including pain and numbness of legs. The appeals were based on direct evidence from service records.

The veteran's claim for service connection for headaches was denied as there is no current evidence of a chronic headache disability.,PTSD was not granted due to the lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors actually occurred. The veteran has been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, which may be related to service.

The Board found no evidence of a well-grounded claim for service connection for any psychiatric disorders, headaches, tinnitus, neck and back disabilities, or muscle spasms.

The veteran was granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, both effective January 15, 1992. However, the RO found no clear and unmistakable error in prior decisions that did not address these claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a vascular disability, including headaches and dementia, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeals as no timely substantive appeal was received for any of the issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they due to a service-connected disability. The preponderance of evidence does not support a causal relationship between the veteran's headaches and either service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for bursitis of the left hip and residuals of head trauma with migraine headaches should be remanded to allow consideration under the correct legal standard.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of exposure to ionizing radiation, including various symptoms such as bleeding gums, rashes, ulcers, bones and joints, kidney stone, gallbladder, lost teeth, spurs in the shoulders, and headaches, are not well-grounded. The claim for suspected cancer as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation is also not well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, increased evaluation for chondromalacia of the left knee, compensable evaluation for epigastric ventral hernia, and an increased rating for migraine headaches. The RO assigned a 10% disability rating for chondromalacia of the left knee under Diagnostic Code 5010 (traumatic arthritis).

The Board has determined that service connection for headaches is warranted. However, the claims of entitlement to service connection for blackouts and swelling of the face, hands, and feet are not well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder (to include asthma), hypertension, migraine headaches, hemorrhoids, and goiter. The claim for increased ratings for pelvic inflammatory disorder with endometriosis and adhesions was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a stomach disability and headaches and dizziness, as well as the reopening of a claim for residuals of a back injury. The May 1956 rating decision was also found not to contain CUE.