Migraines & headaches decisions — 2005

The veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for increased cervical spine disability, including headaches, neck pain, and loss of sensation in the arms and fingers, resulting from a VA medical treatment on February 13, 2002.

The veteran's PTSD was granted service connection. The other claims, including those for joint aches, skin rash, headaches, dizziness, Epstein-Barr virus, hypertension, hallux valgus (right great toe), right knee injury residuals, and low back disorder, are being remanded for additional development.

The VA has determined that the veteran's undiagnosed illnesses, manifested by fatigue and headaches and nausea, do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent under the applicable schedular criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability with headaches as secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder. The decision is final.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic headaches, and brain syndrome. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board finds that the veteran's claimed left knee disability, headaches, bilateral ankle disability, TMJ, and bilateral hearing loss are not related to his active duty service. The evidence does not show any chronic disabilities for these conditions during or within one year following service.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 16, 1992 for the award of service connection for fibromyalgia. The claims for increased evaluations for carpal tunnel syndrome of both hands have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain medical opinion evidence regarding the current severity of the veteran's headaches and to complete other issues not yet addressed. The appeal is currently in a pending state.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and spondylolisthesis, L5-S1 were denied. The veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent disabling, while his spondylolisthesis, L5-S1 is currently rated at 20 percent prior to May 23, 2000, and 20 percent as of that date.

The veteran's cervical spine disorder is rated at 30 percent, the maximum for a non-ankylosed cervical spine. The dorsal spine and occipital neurectomy disorders are each rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for migraine headaches, finding that the appellant's headaches occur six to ten times each month and require bed rest of several hours' duration for recovery. The claim for osteoporosis of the lumbar spine with degenerative changes at disc spaces L5-S1 remains pending.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the evaluations of his migraine disorder and bilateral homonymous hemianopsia disorders have been granted, with the effective date set at February 22, 1992.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, chronic headaches, PUD, and chloracne all claimed as due to exposure to Agent Orange. The veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy during his active duty, and there is no credible supporting evidence of the alleged stressors.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia and migraine headaches, finding that the veteran did not incur these conditions due to active military service or any incident therein. The claims were also not granted as secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board found no evidence of a cervical spine condition or headaches incurred in service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine, low back, and chronic headache disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA examiner did not provide an opinion linking these conditions to military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in loss of use of both lower extremities, requiring specially adapted housing.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are not shown to be related to military service.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings on appeal were denied. The denial of service connection for hyperthyroidism, endometriosis, and fibromyalgia was also noted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches, left wrist disorder, and right wrist disorder. The claim regarding PTSD was withdrawn by the veteran prior to a decision being made.