Migraines & headaches decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for service connection for migraine headaches is not well-grounded, and therefore denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for PTSD and headaches were not well-grounded, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service. The claim for temporary total evaluation based on hospitalization from June to July 1992 was also denied.

The veteran's right knee, eye, sinus, hearing loss (right ear), and migraine headache disabilities are all found to be service-connected.

The Board found that the veteran did not file an adequate substantive appeal for his service-connected headaches, which are currently rated at 10 percent. The other issues related to knee and foot conditions were also deemed without a valid appeal.

The veteran's disabilities, including his psychiatric disorder and COPD, are rated at the minimum levels allowed by law. The RO found that his alcohol abuse was due to willful misconduct and thus not compensable.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim and determined that new evidence supports a finding of service connection for migraine headaches.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected post-traumatic headaches and left wrist disorder, finding that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for headaches is not well grounded and therefore denied.

The veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 and service connection for peptic ulcers, gastritis, and tinnitus are denied.,PTSD is rated at 100 percent effective September 27, 1995.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his bronchial asthma is currently well-managed with inhalers, his headaches do not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation, and his conditions of hypothyroidism, irritable colon syndrome, rash due to an undiagnosed illness, and joint and bone pain due to an undiagnosed illness are not supported by evidence showing they are related to service or the Persian Gulf War.

The veteran's anxiety state with migraine headaches and heart disability are both service-connected, but the claims for asbestosis and suprasellar teratoma are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a cognitive disorder is well-grounded and granted. The claims for service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, disability manifested by numbness of the extremities, and chronic headaches are denied.

The veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are rated at 10 percent, and the Board has granted a 30 percent rating based on more frequent and severe attacks.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and an increased evaluation for his left knee disability, as well as a temporary total rating based on convalescence. The veteran was not granted any of these requests.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from performing the basic functions of self-care, or prevent him from protecting himself from the hazards and dangers of his daily environment, or cause him to be so helpless as to be in need of regular personal assistance from others. Therefore, he is not entitled to special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to lack of jurisdiction, as the veteran failed to file a timely substantive appeal for the September 1997 RO decision denying service connection for left knee and low back disabilities. The right knee instability and arthritis are rated at 10 percent prior to April 7, 1997, and since then.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected tongue injury, aphasia, memory loss, and headaches have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher evaluation based on current symptoms.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded and denied them. The appeals regarding increased ratings for bunion deformities of the right and left great toes were also considered, but no rating was assigned as the criteria for a compensable evaluation were not met.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip arthritis and headache disability, but found the claim of service connection for left hip disability not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the appellant's migraine headaches meet the criteria for a 30 percent disability rating, as they are characterized by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks.