Migraines & headaches decisions — 2000

The Board found that the veteran's claim of service connection for a headache disorder is plausible and granted the claim, finding that his condition likely originated in service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected chronic headaches was denied as the evidence did not establish the presence of sustained, very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks, productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder and granted an increased disability evaluation to 30 percent for TMJ dysfunction with headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, diarrhea, and insomnia due to undiagnosed illness experienced during the veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The disability must be manifested by objective indications of chronic disability not later than December 31, 2001.

The Board denied the claims of service connection for a back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, stomach disorder, headache disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found no well-grounded claims for service connection due to lack of medical evidence linking current disabilities to the veteran's inservice injuries.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, low back pain, and knee disability are not well-grounded because there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. Service connection has been established for neck disability, back disability, bilateral knee and leg disabilities, pes planus, and hearing loss. Increased ratings have been assigned for hypertension and skin disorders.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is service-connected due to in-service noise exposure. The remaining claims for service connection are not well-grounded as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link between any claimed conditions and service.

The Board found that the veteran has presented evidence of a well-grounded claim for service connection for headaches, but denied claims for joint pain, memory loss, right-sided numbness, hoarseness, confusion, and anxiety/depression due to undiagnosed illnesses.

The veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans Insurance was denied because he is not in 'good health' aside from his service-connected disabilities, as determined by VA criteria.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a low back injury, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claim is well-grounded as there is current disability of the low back.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's headaches, blackouts, right shoulder disorder, back disorder, optic nerve damage, and nasal fracture, all claimed as residuals of a motor vehicle accident. The RO also assigned a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's scar above his right eyebrow.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a neck or head injury and a psychiatric disability as not well grounded, due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to incidents in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and an undiagnosed illness, finding no current evidence of a hearing loss disability. The claim for an undiagnosed illness was not well-grounded due to lack of medical evidence showing signs or symptoms of such an illness.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's residuals of cerebrovascular fluid leak and meningitis with lacunar infarct, organic brain syndrome and headaches, finding no basis for a higher evaluation given the current manifestations do not meet the criteria for multi-infarct dementia.

The Board denied a higher rating for headaches due to brain trauma, initially assigned a 10 percent evaluation, effective from November 1995.

The veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar syndrome was granted a 40 percent evaluation effective June 1, 1993.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including examinations and information requests, to properly evaluate the appellant's claims. The RO should consider entitlement to an extra-schedular evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 3.321(b)(2) in evaluating the appellant's service-connected vascular headaches.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection are not well grounded for all of his claimed conditions. The evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between any of these conditions and his military service.