Migraines & headaches decisions — 2003

The veteran's tension headaches due to Gulf War service are rated at 30 percent effective from September 8, 1995. Service connection is granted for these conditions based on direct evidence of their onset and progression during the veteran's active duty in the Gulf War.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and post-traumatic headaches, finding that these conditions are related to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident during service.

The Board found that the veteran's headaches are not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for headaches due to undiagnosed illness from service in the Persian Gulf War. The case is being remanded for further development and consideration of new evidence.

The veteran's appeals regarding increased evaluations for Homer's syndrome with ptosis, miosis, and left eye vision loss, and for a history of concussion with headaches are pending. The RO has awarded an increased evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected Homer's syndrome with ptosis, miosis, and left eye vision loss.

The Board found that the veteran's migraine headaches are due to a head injury sustained in service, granting service connection for this condition. The other issues of sensory neuropathy and osteochondromatosis were not fully resolved.

The veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and gastrointestinal disability or symptoms, to include as a result of undiagnosed illness, have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a grant of service connection on any basis.

The Board has granted service connection for a muscle contraction headache disorder as secondary to the veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of trauma to the cervical spine with radiculopathy at C-6, C-7, C-8, bilaterally is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder and a sinus disorder, finding that both conditions had their origins in service.

The veteran's headaches are found to be as likely as not related to his period of active military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total rating due to service-connected disabilities was denied as the effective date of March 27, 2001 is correct because the depression was first claimed on that date.

The Board granted a rating of 50 percent for closed head injury with post-traumatic migraine headaches, effective from April 14, 1998.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic low back disability, bilateral pes planus, residuals of amputation of the third toe of the right foot, chronic headaches, and scars behind the ears. The appeals are all denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The VA found that the service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic muscular strain of the lumbar spine and assigned a 10 percent evaluation effective November 28, 1995. The veteran's appeal is not about service connection at all.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected headaches, currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran withdrew his appeal due to returning to active duty, and thus the issues are dismissed.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Board hearing at the RO. The issues of service connection for headaches and a compensable rating for a head scar are pending.

The veteran's current headaches were not present during service and have been diagnosed as tension headaches. The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection due to an undiagnosed illness or any other presumption.

The Board has determined that the veteran currently suffers from left shoulder tendonitis with a retained metallic foreign body related to an injury caused by a split rim tire explosion during active duty service, and grants service connection for this condition.