Migraines & headaches decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities. The veteran's combined disability rating is 70 percent, meeting the threshold requirement for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's chronic headaches are related to her in-service concussion, and thus service connection for residuals of a concussion with residual headaches is granted.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes was denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA psychiatric examination without good cause.

The veteran's post-traumatic headaches were found to be incurred in active service and granted.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of skull trauma and found no new and material evidence to reopen the claims for seizure disorder and headaches. The veteran's appeal was not properly addressed in the original decision.

The Board found that service connection could not be granted for headaches, skin disorder, joint pain, muscle pain, memory loss and behavior changes, or fatigue as they were not shown to have been incurred in or aggravated by active service. However, the veteran's abnormal weight gain was considered a compensable disability.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for headaches and a compensable evaluation for chronic sinusitis, finding that the evidence did not support ratings higher than those currently assigned.

The veteran's chronic headaches, bilateral foot pain, hypertension, and prostatitis are all found to be related to his active service.

The Board found that the veteran's current headaches and eye problems are not related to his service, specifically his head injury in 1970. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, prostatitis, and acute epididymitis. The claim for increased rating of degenerative disc disease of L5-S1 is also denied.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The veteran's initial rating for her head injury and headaches was granted at 10 percent, while the rating for her wrist disability with scars and neuropathy remains at 40 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for non-service-connected pension benefits.

The veteran's service-connected headaches and asthma are rated at 50% and 30%, respectively, resulting in a combined rating of 70%. The Board has granted an increased rating for the headaches to 50%, and has also granted entitlement to TDIU based on these conditions.

The veteran's low back disorder, left shoulder disorder, residuals of a right ankle sprain, residuals of a right fifth finger injury, headaches, and left leg disorder were not shown to be related to service. The appeal is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various undiagnosed illness-related symptoms, did not meet the criteria for service connection or an increased rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's migraine headaches, seizure disorder, and first cervical nerve disorder are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of migraine headaches should be June 5, 1997, as this was when the veteran first submitted a claim for such condition.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic headache disorder with complex migraine, as secondary to her service-connected major depressive disorder.