Migraines & headaches decisions — 2001

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected psychoneurosis with anxiety and headaches, finding that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a left foot and/or ankle disorder, low back disorder, skin disorders of the feet, bronchitis, and sinusitis. The veteran's pre-service fracture was not considered to have increased in severity during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran currently has right knee and right ankle strain, which were incurred in service. The claim for left ankle strain is remanded. Post-traumatic headaches are also granted. Service connection for lumbosacral strain was not established.

The veteran's service-connected headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100. The RO has granted a separate noncompensable rating for his hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) effective from November 2, 1998.

The veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are productive of characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month over the last several months, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The veteran's claim for non-service-connected pension benefits was granted effective November 25, 2001. The RO also granted service connection for migraine headaches with an effective date of February 7, 2001.

The Board found that the veteran's headaches are not related to his service-connected fracture of the nose and denied his claim for service connection. His increased rating claim for low back syndrome is pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, headaches, sinus disorder, high blood pressure, bilateral foot disorder, left toe fracture, or skin disorder of the hands and feet.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 50 percent for cluster headaches and denied the claim for a higher rating for cervical spine disorder.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, excluding hypertension; a skin condition; allergic rhinitis; and a headache disorder. The evidence does not support the presence of any chronic cardiovascular or skin conditions during service or at present.

The Board has determined that the veteran's vascular headaches resembling migraine headaches do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, as they are not shown to be both completely prostrating and prolonged in nature, or productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board found that the veteran's neurasthenia existed prior to service and was not aggravated by military service. The right arm disorder is also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board found that the reduction in the rating for service-connected migraine headaches from 30 percent to 10 percent was improper and restored the original 30 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claimed conditions are not service-connected due to lack of evidence supporting a link between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including memory loss; left ankle disability; and headaches. The claim for increased rating for right ankle disability was also denied.

The Board is remanding the case due to unclear etiology of a mood disorder and potential discrepancies in medical records, requiring further development including an examination for a mood disorder.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claim of service connection for migraine headaches as no substantive appeal was filed. The right knee disability is currently rated at 20% since November 1, 1998.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for migraine headaches, chronic fatigue, and eczema. The veteran's complaints were attributed to known diagnoses and no evidence was found linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability, organic mental disorder, left seventh cranial nerve disability, loss of sense of smell, and head, neck and facial scars are all currently rated at their maximum levels. The cervical spine disability with limitation of motion is granted a 20% rating.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected sinusitis and tension/rebound headaches, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current manifestations of these conditions.