Migraines & headaches decisions — 2005

The Board found that a chronic disability (other than the veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder) manifested by fatigue, headaches, muscle and joint pain, memory loss, a sleep disorder, or mood swings was not present during service. The preponderance of the evidence indicates that these symptoms are due to diagnosed disorders rather than an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's claim for service connection for chronic headaches was granted. The Board found that the veteran had a history of migraine-type headaches prior to his military service and continued to experience these headaches after separation, linking them to his period of active duty.

The veteran's headache disorder has been rated at 30 percent since September 7, 1988. The Board found that the symptomatology did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current headaches, diagnosed as mixed-type, tension, and migraine headaches, are related to her symptoms of headaches during service. As such, the criteria for service connection have been met.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to a higher initial rating for a scar from removal of a nevus on the back and entitlement to service connection for headaches.

The Board has remanded the case due to the inextricably intertwined nature of the veteran's claims for service connection for a neck injury and migraine headaches. The claim for service connection for migraine headaches will be reconsidered after the reopening of the previously denied claim for service connection for a neck disability.

The veteran's migraine headaches were rated as noncompensable prior to July 2003 and 10 percent since then.,There is no current diagnosis of residual scarring on the left hand. The veteran reported a cut during service, but there was no follow-up treatment or evidence of scar formation.

The Board found that the appellant's current headache disorder is not shown to be related to his period of active duty for training, and thus denied service connection.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further evidentiary development due to scheduling issues.

The veteran's headaches are related to his service-connected cervical spine disability and have been granted service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder and a low back disorder, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for right knee sprain and service connection for tension headaches, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating or service connection based on the current evidence of record.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his residuals of a concussion, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and residuals of heat stroke, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic headaches. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and his active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left arm spasm, shortness of breath, chronic fatigue, sleep disorder, psychiatric disability, memory loss, uncontrolled blinking, and headaches. The appeals were based on a new-and-material theory.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for the veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, finding that the current 50 percent rating is the maximum schedular evaluation available.

The veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including connective tissue disease/lupus and Raynaud's disease, as secondary to radiation exposure. The RO has scheduled a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic headaches existed prior to service and were not aggravated by service, but still grants service connection for this disability.