Migraines & headaches decisions — 2004

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection of migraine headaches and new and material evidence has been received. The residuals of a concussion resulting from VA medical treatment are also addressed, but the specific service connection theory is not specified.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examination reports and treatment records.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected bilateral otitis media warrants a maximum 10 percent rating since November 3, 1993. The claim for higher ratings was denied as there is no evidence of hearing loss or other complications warranting an increased evaluation.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated medical records, regulatory changes in spine rating criteria, and recent testimony indicating increased severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury is being remanded to the RO for further examination and opinion.

The Board found no evidence of hypertension or sinusitis with headaches during service and denied the veteran's claims.,There is insufficient medical evidence to establish a connection between current conditions and service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an increased rating for his headaches and service connection for a major depressive disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or to his service-connected headache disability.

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected back disorder, headache disorder, or psychiatric disability based on the appellant's claimed incident. The claims were denied.

The veteran's claims for increased disability ratings were granted, with a rating of 10 percent assigned for his service-connected probable post-concussion, vascular type headaches with intermittent blurry vision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, fatigue, sleeplessness, stomach conditions, loss of appetite, headaches, and memory loss, have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service or an undiagnosed illness. The Board finds that the veteran failed to provide sufficient information for VA to consider any potential claims based on exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or other presumptive illnesses.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of an intracranial injury manifested by headaches and injury is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and a new VA neurological examination.

The Board denied service connection for a disorder manifested by irritability, a chronic headache disability, and a genitourinary disability manifested by blood in the urine. The veteran's claims were not supported by competent evidence associating these conditions with his active military duty.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the service-connected psychotic disorder with anxiety, and a 10 percent rating for post-traumatic migraine headaches. The ratings are effective as of the date of the decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's current disability is likely due to his active military service. The other issues on appeal are addressed in the REMAND portion of this document and will be remanded to the RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected post-traumatic concussion syndrome with a residual cognitive disorder, headaches, and sleep disturbance, as there is no evidence of multi-infarct dementia associated with brain trauma to warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches, photophobia, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) due to additional development being required. The veteran's service records do not provide sufficient information on these conditions' etiology.

The Board has denied service connection for headaches due to a motor vehicle accident and PTSD. The initial disability rating for the veteran's lumbar spine DJD remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and headaches, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 16, 2001 for the grant of service connection for migraine headaches was denied.,The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for PID, currently rated as 10 percent disabling, was not granted earlier than May 29, 2001.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for headaches due to an undiagnosed illness prior to a decision being made by the Board.