Migraines & headaches decisions — 2003

The veteran's claims for service connection for chronic headaches and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of left clavicle fracture were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support the presence of chronic headaches or an impairment warranting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder disability and head injury residuals, including headaches and vertigo, are likely due to injuries sustained during service. The benefit of doubt is applied in favor of the veteran.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have chronic headaches that are a residual of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during service.

The veteran's only service-connected disability is tension headaches, rated noncompensably disabling. The evidence does not show that this condition renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's claims for various disabilities, including those related to his Persian Gulf War service, have been denied as they are not found to be directly or secondary to his military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disorder is granted, with the Board finding that his headaches began during active service and have continued since then.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tension headaches, diagnosed shortly after separation from service and related to in-service complaints of headaches, are related to active service.

The veteran does not meet the criteria for vocational rehabilitation benefits due to his service-connected prostatitis and nonservice-connected low back pain, headaches, and schizophrenia. His employment handicap is not caused by his service-connected disability.

The VA determined that the veteran's cluster headaches, rated as 10 percent disabling since October 22, 1996, warrant a higher evaluation of 30 percent effective from October 22, 1996.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation, service connection for PTSD and back injuries, as well as reopening of a claim for sinusitis, rhinitis and a deviated nasal septum were denied. The veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions of allergies, sinus headaches, and asthma are not service-connected as there is no evidence showing their onset during active duty or continuity of symptomatology. The veteran's reported undiagnosed illness resulting in intermittent numbness, muscle aches, fatigue, and other symptoms was also denied due to lack of objective medical evidence.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's headaches were not incurred or aggravated during his active service and are not related to any service-connected disability, including Reiter's syndrome.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and severance of service connection for refractive error, PTSD, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and chronic muscle tension headaches. The decision found that the initial grants of service connection were not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The VA has denied a higher rating for the veteran's service-connected headaches, finding that his complaints of daily or near-daily headaches do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board found that the veteran does not have any residuals of frostbite, a current inguinal rupture or recurrent hernia, a neck condition, a shoulder condition, or headaches that were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The veteran's death was caused by hydrocephalus due to recurrent medulablastoma, which the VA oncologist reviewed and concluded could be an early manifestation of his brain cancer. The Board granted service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of his schizoaffective disorder and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The current disability is rated at 30 percent, but does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting left knee and bilateral pes planus disabilities did not worsen during service, and denied claims for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of intracranial injury and headache disorder are currently rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The RO has granted a 50 percent disability rating for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic post-traumatic headaches and varicocelectomy scar were both denied. The VA found that the veteran's headaches did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and his varicocelectomy scar was not painful or tender.