Migraines & headaches decisions — 2002

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an earlier effective date and for clear and unmistakable error in a prior rating decision. The veteran did not have pending claims at the time of his death for these issues.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis, an increased rating for spontaneous pneumothorax, and a higher rating for headaches. The evidence does not support granting any of these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic acquired headache disability was incurred in service and granted her claim for service connection.

The veteran's post-concussion syndrome with chronic post-traumatic headaches is rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it, based on new evidence submitted since the previous denial in November 1994.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, concluding that there is no competent medical evidence linking the current condition to any incident of military service.

The veteran's service connection claim for headaches is granted, as the evidence supports that his current headaches are likely due to a head injury sustained during military service in 1941.

The Board found no probative medical evidence linking the veteran's current low back disorder to her service, and denied entitlement to service connection. For migraine headaches, the Board noted that while they were productive of disability, they did not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including residuals of head injury with tinnitus, migraines, depression, and memory loss, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hiatal hernia and remanded it to the RO for additional development. The claims for major depression, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder, headaches, memory loss, brain hemorrhage, fatigue, and body muscle pain are all pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sore joints, memory loss, headaches, fatigue, gum disease, diarrhea, breathing problems, and nosebleeds. The appeals were based on undiagnosed illnesses related to his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has determined that the veteran's memory loss, decrease in concentration, insomnia, night sweats and lack of motivation are related to undiagnosed illness during service. The respiratory symptoms, fatigue, joint pain, and headaches are also considered due to undiagnosed illness.

The RO denied the veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, hypertension, and a back disorder in October 1987 and June 1990. The decisions are final as to these issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by service-connected conditions, and therefore denied both his claim for service connection for the cause of death and his eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35. The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's heart disease to any incident or condition during active military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not materially contribute to his impairment in employability, thus he is not eligible for vocational rehabilitation benefits.

The Board denied service connection for amblyopia of the left eye and headaches, and did not grant an increased rating for the fracture of the left humerus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a head injury, finding that there is no current disability related to such an injury sustained in service.

The Board finds that the veteran's headache disorder, which pre-existed service, was aggravated by an in-service motor vehicle accident. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder, neck disorder, and headache disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran withdrew his appeal, leaving only the issue of headaches to be considered. The other issues have not been developed for review.