Migraines & headaches decisions — 2005

The veteran does not have current disability associated with residuals of status post mandibular prognathism surgery.,Any TMJ syndrome, including muscle tension headaches are not related to the veteran's period of service.,Migraine headaches were neither incurred in nor aggravated by active service.,There is no corroborative evidence of an ankle sprain in service and no objective evidence of current residuals.

The Board granted the appellant's claim for apportionment of the veteran's compensation benefits on behalf of his minor children, effective September 1, 1991.

The Board is remanding the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and increased rating of his service-connected occipital neuralgia with headaches due to inadequate VCAA notice, need for a clarifying VA examination, and incomplete treatment records.

The veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and residuals, small metallic foreign body, right eye do not meet the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to his disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's headaches did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent, as they were characterized by prostrating attacks occurring approximately once every three to five weeks. The current 30 percent rating was deemed appropriate.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, finding that the veteran's current headaches are related to his reported symptoms in service. The issue of an increased rating for residuals of cervical spine fracture is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for residuals of a left distal fibula fracture, and the issues regarding headaches, hemorrhoids, scar on the abdomen, right ulna fracture, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome have been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral patellofemoral knee disorder and unspecified headaches are related to service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The issues of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids and a postoperative scar on the right breast are not yet ready for appellate review.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, heart disability with associated visual disorder, low back disability, residuals of head injury other than headaches, and right hip disability.

The Board found that the veteran's current headache disability was not caused or worsened by his service-connected tinnitus, and therefore denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hair loss is due to androgenetic alopecia, which does not constitute an undiagnosed illness related to his Persian Gulf service. Therefore, service connection for hair loss as a disability due to an undiagnosed illness is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's tension headaches on a secondary basis to his service-connected PTSD. The other issues are addressed in the Remand section.

The Board denied service connection for low back strain, PTSD, tremors (to include Parkinson's disease), headaches, and COPD. The veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of in-service stressors or a nexus to service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic stomach disability or residuals from the 1952 head injury, and thus denied both claims.

The Board found that the veteran does not have residuals of a head injury that are causally related to service.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain MRI and EEG results from a July 2004 VA neurologic examination, review the claims file for completion of all requested development, and readjudicate the claim in light of all evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's migraine headaches did not originate in service and are not otherwise causally related to his military service, including to the service-connected residuals of a concussion he sustained in 1991. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for headaches and seizure disorder were denied, while the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability was not addressed due to further development being required.

The veteran's cluster headaches are found to be of service origin, and the claim for service connection is granted. The issue of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. ¶ 1151 for residuals of a lumbar puncture performed at a VA Medical Center on April 1, 1999, remains pending.