Migraines & headaches decisions — 2005

The Board has assigned a 30 percent schedular evaluation for the appellant's service-connected headache disability effective from March 17, 1999. The appellant's headaches were characterized by prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over several months prior to October 14, 1999.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, residuals of a head injury with headaches, and bipolar disorder were not supported by evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for back disorder was reopened but denied on the merits.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for amaurosis fugax and finds that it was incurred in service. The disability is manifested by ocular migraines, which are related to military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected migraine headaches, which are currently rated at 30 percent. The RO has increased the rating to 10 percent and then to 30 percent effective from February 10, 1999. However, the Board finds that additional development is necessary before reaching a decision on this issue.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected low back strain, head injury with migraine headaches, and neck strain are being remanded to the RO for additional development including obtaining medical records from a private physician and scheduling new VA examinations.

The Board found that there is no evidence of current residual disabilities, including headaches and PTSD, resulting from an inservice head injury. The veteran's claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches. The appeals were decided on the basis of direct service connection without any presumption or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to procedural errors and the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from various sources.

The Board has determined that the veteran's headaches and residuals of a fractured mandible were incurred in service and are not due to his own willful misconduct, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence suggesting a motor vehicle accident in 1991 may have caused the veteran's cervical spine disorder and headaches. The veteran will need to undergo further examination to determine if these conditions are related to the 1991 incident.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, a back disability, a foot disability, a leg disability, and a shoulder disability. The June 1979 motorcycle accident was determined to have resulted from the veteran's own willful misconduct and alcohol abuse and not in the line of duty.

The Board found that the veteran's current symptoms, including headaches, nausea, vomiting, sleeplessness, and aching joints, are not etiologically related to his in-service head injuries. The VA examiners' opinions supported this conclusion based on the absence of neurological deficits and lack of evidence of bony injury.

The Board found that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury with headaches, as all submitted evidence was cumulative or redundant.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and the increased evaluation claims for residuals of a gunshot wound of the left groin and shell fragment wounds of the knees. The veteran's current headache complaints are not related to his military service, and he was last examined by VA in 2002.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the etiology of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to unclear issues and procedural history.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his headaches and PTSD.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for peptic ulcer disease at a hearing before the Board.

The veteran is seeking service connection for residuals of a concussion, including chronic headaches. The case has been remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examination.