Migraines & headaches decisions — 2004

The veteran's back disorder is related to his service-connected left tibia fracture. Impotence is not related to any service-connected condition. The other conditions are either not directly related to service or have no evidence of exposure to known risk factors.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current headaches and hypertension are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD, granting secondary service connection for both conditions.

The veteran was granted service connection for PTSD, a back disorder, defective hearing, tinnitus, and gastrointestinal disorders as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation. The other issues were not granted.

The veteran's headaches are found to be due to anxiety, a supervening condition. Therefore, service connection for headaches as due to an undiagnosed illness is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her mechanical low back pain with degenerative joint disease and migraine headaches, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for the low back disorder or a rating in excess of 30 percent for the migraines prior to June 20, 2003, and to a rating in excess of 50 percent thereafter.

The VA has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's migraine headaches, which have been characterized as prostrating attacks occurring on average once per month over the last several months.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected headaches and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The veteran was awarded a maximum schedular rating of 50 percent for his headaches, but the RO found that this did not result in significant interference with employment beyond what is contemplated by the current rating.

The Board found that the veteran's headaches were neither incurred in nor aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim and determined that his current condition is due to an undiagnosed illness resulting from Gulf War service. The veteran's somatoform disorder with dysthymia, along with other symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, joint pain, fatigue, headaches, fluctuation of appetite, apathy, memory loss, and chest pain, are considered part of this undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's appeal was granted for initial compensable disability ratings for his burn scar on the right hand and service connection for muscle tension headaches. The issue of left carpal tunnel syndrome is being remanded.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, trauma headaches, and a neck disorder due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board granted the veteran's claim, assigning a noncompensable (0 percent) initial evaluation for cluster headaches and later increased it to 10 percent effective from the day after his departure from active service. The decision found that while there was evidence of current disability and in-service injury, there was no evidence showing characteristic prostrating attacks averaging once per month over several months.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his puretone thresholds did not meet the criteria for a disability rating.,Service connection for prostate disorder was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such condition in the claims file.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for various conditions, including headaches and tinnitus as residuals of a spinal tap, loss of visual acuity, psychiatric disorder, disability of the back and legs, and hearing loss. The evidence submitted was deemed insufficient to reopen these claims.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to unclear evidence regarding his Gulf War Syndrome and related symptoms, as well as his back and neck disorders. The RO is instructed to ensure all necessary development is completed before readjudicating the claims.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a skin condition, lymphatic filariasis, gastrointestinal disorder, numbness of the legs and arms, left knee disability, migraine headaches, and low back disability. The veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for numbness of the arms and legs, as well as her claim for an original disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for migraines. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis or link to service.

The veteran's service connection claims are being remanded due to conflicting information regarding her dates and nature of service. Further clarification is needed before the Board can make a determination.

The veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The RO found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his previously denied gastrointestinal disability claim, and the denial of hepatitis was final.