Migraines & headaches decisions — 2001

The veteran's headaches are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected hearing loss, and therefore, he is denied entitlement to service connection for headaches on a secondary basis.

The veteran's initial evaluations for headaches, TMJ syndrome, and carpal tunnel syndrome were granted. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy was denied. The evaluation for TMJ syndrome was increased to 10 percent effective November 16, 1996.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's migraine headaches, which were first noted during his active service and have persisted since then, are considered to have been incurred during service. The claim is granted.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and residuals of a fracture of the right little finger, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the appellant's lumbar strain warrants a 10 percent rating, but denied reopening of her claim for service connection due to headaches as new and material evidence was not presented. The decision is mixed since one issue was granted (lumbar strain) and another was not (headaches).

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection of migraine headaches with blackouts, bilateral knee disorder, and low back disorder. The veteran's current conditions are deemed to have been incurred during his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including migraine headaches, a gynecological disorder, a psychiatric disorder, tinnitus with vertigo, rhinitis, sinusitis, a dermatological disorder defined as acne or eczema vulgaris, and fibromyalgia. The RO also denied an increased disability rating for service-connected joint pain and stiffness of the right hand, right wrist, and both knees, as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's service-connected post-traumatic headaches are currently rated as noncompensable (zero percent) due to the lack of documented prostrating or migrainous attacks.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death, and therefore grants service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's cervical spine, right knee, and headache disabilities were granted increased ratings. The PTSD rating was also granted, but the left corneal scar did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for various symptoms, including skin rashes, viral warts, sores and lumps on the head with folliculitis, jaundice of the eyes, gingivitis, muscle contraction headaches and vascular headaches, joint and muscle pain, back pain, atypical noncardiac chest pain, frequent urination, recurrent diarrhea, hair loss, depressive disorder, fatigue, blurred vision, allergic rhinitis with sinusitis, sensitivity to chemical sprays, stress, and memory loss, is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-concussion headaches, which are related to a head injury incurred during service, meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a fracture of the right foot and assigned an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder. The veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for fractures of the left foot was also denied.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected head injury with chronic headaches was denied as the disability does not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claims due to lack of timely substantive appeal for issues related to undiagnosed illnesses.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, granted service connection for a low back disability with a 10 percent rating, right hip disability with a 10 percent rating, and right knee disability with a 10 percent rating. The veteran's claim for compensable initial ratings for decreased visual acuity and dry eye on the right was not addressed in this decision.

The veteran's increased rating claim for migraine headaches was denied as the evidence did not show that his headaches were productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully address the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his essential hypertension and headaches.

The Board is unable to determine whether the veteran's claimed conditions are related to his military service, as there is insufficient evidence in the record. The case must be remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The case is being remanded to the RO for further development and examination, including a mental disorders and headache examination.