Migraines & headaches decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back and chronic headache disabilities are not related to his active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings and secondary service connection for fatigue, headaches, and bilateral eye disorder as related to his service-connected Type II Diabetes Mellitus.

The veteran's symptoms of fatigue, loss of energy, joint discomfort (neck, low back, right shoulder), memory loss, headaches, anxiety, fevers, skin rash, boils, and disability secondary to reaction to chemicals are not considered service-connected due to lack of evidence supporting their causation by an undiagnosed illness. Service connection is granted for neck, back, and right shoulder discomfort as manifestations of an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right foot pain and muscle contraction headaches (claimed as migraines), finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under VA's rating schedule.

The veteran is seeking an initial compensable rating for his service-connected residuals of a broken nose with associated breathing, sinus, snoring, and headache problems. The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of these symptoms.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for post-concussion syndrome with migraine headaches, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for cervical spine disorder, dorsal (thoracic) spine disorder, vascular insufficiency of the left lower extremity, left hip disorder, chronic headache disorder, and chronic skin disorder. The appeal is not about any exposure to herbicides or other presumptive conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for migraine headaches, rhinosinusitis, chronic maxillary, athlete's foot disorder, and fracture of the right little toe. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board finds that the veteran's right elbow joint pain, chronic headaches, and fatigue are related to his service in the Persian Gulf War and due to an undiagnosed illness. The rash of the lower legs is not shown as being related to active service or due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and fibromyalgia, but granted service connection for dysthymic disorder with a 10% evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for headaches. The claim is granted as there is now sufficient evidence to raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and a seizure disorder, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for headaches, anxiety disorders, and a sleep disorder due to their relationship with the service-connected bilateral tinnitus. The hypertension claim remains denied as it is not related to the service-connected bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of head injuries, manifested by headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness and nervousness, warrant a 10 percent rating. The veteran is not entitled to an increased rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches, claimed as secondary to a shell fragment wound of the occipital scalp. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and headaches, as well as his requests to reopen previously denied claims regarding the residuals of a gunshot wound to the right hip and herniorrhaphy. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for diabetes mellitus and hepatitis C were also not awarded prior to July 30, 1993.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected cervical spine disability, finding that there is no current evidence warranting a higher evaluation.

The veteran's appeal is for an increased rating for cervical spine disability, and service connection for various other conditions. The current rating of 30 percent for the cervical spine disability remains in effect.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic headaches and dizzy spells began during active military service, while his stomach disorder (ulcer) is presumed to have been incurred in service. The hypertension issue remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.