Migraines & headaches decisions — 2001

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a chronic headache disability or a back disorder as a result of disease or injury during service. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The RO has reopened the claims for left ear hearing loss and migraines, but denied service connection for bladder cancer. The new evidence submitted is sufficient to reopen these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's headaches and eye injury continued to cause severe symptoms, warranting a higher rating than what was proposed. The reduction of ratings from 30% to 10% was not supported by evidence.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for headaches and rated the disorder at a 10 percent disability level, effective from the date of receipt of the initial claim in January 1999. The veteran requested the maximum rating but stated that he just dealt with his daily headaches.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for various conditions, including PTSD, hypertension, and residuals of a head injury. The claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted increased ratings of 10% for the veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability and headaches, effective December 8, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome, musculoskeletal pain of the wrists, shoulders, hips, neck and knees, muscle weakness, headaches, night sweats, burning eyes, depression, memory loss, and sleep problems are all related to his service in the Gulf War.

The Board found that the initially assigned noncompensable evaluation for residuals of a head injury with fracture and headaches was appropriate, as there were no objective findings supporting more than a noncompensable rating. The veteran's left ankle disorder claim is remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected recurrent headaches, finding that the frequency and severity of his headaches warrant this rating.

The veteran's service-connected tension and migraine headaches are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were denied due to inadequate examination findings.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and compensation for a right great toe disorder, a left great toe disorder, and migraine headaches was denied as there is no evidence of an earlier formal or informal claim within the year following her discharge from active duty.

The veteran's muscle contraction headaches are rated as noncompensable (0 percent) due to the lack of evidence of completely prostrating attacks.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection have been remanded due to procedural errors and the need for additional development.

The Board granted a 30% evaluation for the veteran's migraine headaches prior to January 19, 1999 and denied an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are denied as there is no evidence of hypertension meeting the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable regulations, and the other conditions do not meet the requirements for direct service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's petitions to reopen his claims of service connection for headaches and a nervous disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted sufficient to reopen these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, severe depression, blackout spells, dizziness, headaches, and blurred vision. The right knee disability claim was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran is unemployable due to multiple disabilities, including chronic lumbar syndrome and degenerative joint disease. The evidence shows he suffers from a combination of conditions that prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the October 1959 decision severing service connection for psychoneurosis, anxiety, manifested by headaches was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, weakness of the left arm, headaches, residuals of a stress fracture of the left foot, right knee strain, and left ankle strain are denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.