Migraines & headaches decisions — 2002

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, but denied claims for hypertension, head injury residuals, headaches, and sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's headaches and sinusitis were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they due to an undiagnosed illness. The diagnoses of these conditions have been attributed to known clinical diagnoses.

The veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, fatigue, a skin disorder, dizziness, and an abdominal muscle strain were all denied. The Board found that the veteran did not have objective indications of chronic disability manifested by these conditions during service or within presumptive periods due to undiagnosed illness.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal because his substantive appeal was not filed within the required time frame.

The Board denied the veteran's appeals for effective dates prior to November 4, 1999 for increased evaluations of his service-connected migraine and muscle tension headaches, as well as a TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, end stage renal disease, a lung disorder, and headaches. The evidence did not support these claims as there was no in-service diagnosis or exposure to chemicals that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and contusions and episodic joint pain of the elbows and knees, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected myoclonic epilepsy.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The RO reduced the rating for bilateral pes cavus with traumatic arthritis from 30 percent to 10 percent in October 1988, but this decision was not CUE. The veteran's claim for an increased rating is denied.,The RO granted service connection for mixed tension migraine headaches effective February 25, 2000 and assigned a 30 percent evaluation for bilateral pes cavus with traumatic arthritis of the right foot effective April 27, 1999. The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are denied.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the May 1984 rating decision did not constitute new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for headaches, residuals of head injury, post-operative. As such, the May 1984 RO determination remains final.

The Board denied service connection for low back disorder and headaches, finding no chronicity of symptoms in service or post-service. The veteran's current conditions were not related to any injury or disease during his active duty service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, headaches, and right thumb, 3rd and 5th fingers disability. The Board also found that there is no evidence of a current right shoulder disability or headache disorder within one year of discharge.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed disabilities, including sore throat, flu-like symptoms, a chronic cough, chest congestion, and shortness of breath; intestinal swelling, abdominal bloating, diarrhea and constipation; joint pain; fatigue; fever and chills; and sore gums with recurrent blisters on tongue and oral mucosa. The Board found that the veteran's disabilities were not due to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and seizures were denied, but his stress reactions of the legs were granted. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted while others are not.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, headaches, blackouts and blurred vision, achy joints, and stuttering. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection based on direct service incurrence or secondary to an already service-connected condition.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach disorder and headaches, finding that new evidence supports these claims. Service connection is granted for a right leg disability.,Service connection is granted for a chronic headache disorder incurred during active duty.

The veteran's hypertension was granted an initial noncompensable evaluation. Service connection for tension headaches and migraine headaches were both granted with respective evaluations.

The Board found that the appellant's PTSD does not manifest occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, thus denying an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied a higher initial evaluation for the veteran's post-traumatic headaches, finding that the evidence did not show sufficient frequency of prostrating attacks to warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.