Migraines & headaches decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a left ankle disability and therefore his claims for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities are denied. The veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, head injury (including headaches), and back injuries lack legal merit.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased disability ratings for his trapezius muscle spasm and restricted neck motion associated with head injury residuals, as well as his headaches. The current evaluations of 20 percent are considered appropriate based on the clinical evidence.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for a nervous disorder, currently diagnosed as bipolar disorder. The claim is now decided on its merits.,Service connection for hypertension, heart condition, migraine headaches, and blocked arteries is denied because there is no evidence of these conditions during service or that they are related to tobacco use.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD and headaches are service-connected based on credible in-service stressors. The other issues were denied as they did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied a separate compensable evaluation for the veteran's headaches, finding that they are part and parcel of his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a heart disability and found that new and material evidence was not received. The claim for an increased evaluation for migraines was granted with a rating of 30 percent.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for headaches and remanded his claims for service connection for a back disorder due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The veteran is also required to provide updated medical records and undergo examinations to determine if current conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for hypertension and headaches due to incomplete development of evidence, including obtaining medical opinions on the nature and onset of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including high cholesterol, shortness of breath, skin disorders, sleep disorder, migraine headaches, watery eyes, right knee chondromalacia, cervical spine disability, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and benign posterior auricular node are denied. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, headache disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current migraine headaches to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service connection claim for stress incontinence of the bladder is granted. The other claims are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board found that the veteran timely filed a notice of disagreement with the September 2001 rating decision, which reinstated his appeal on all issues except for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of evidence linking his claimed conditions to active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for notification and development of evidence, including scheduling a hearing.

The Board denied all service connection claims, including those for skin disorders and other conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination and incomplete evidence. The veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, headaches, arthritis of the lumbar spine, dental trauma from service, and a right index finger fracture.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his headaches, residuals of head trauma. The disability is rated as 10 percent disabling based on purely subjective complaints such as headache.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a current chronic acquired disorder manifested by headaches and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected dysthymic disorder warrants a 100 percent disability rating, effective from November 7, 1996.