Migraines & headaches decisions — 2006

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder, headaches, bilateral knee disorders, foot disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder were not incurred or aggravated during qualifying military service.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service, except for his skin disorder which was caused by active military service. The left knee, right great toe, and right shoulder disabilities are presumed to have occurred in service due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found that the veteran does not have residuals of kidney transplant surgery, headaches, or a lung disorder attributable to service. The claims were denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for residuals of a head trauma and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the veteran sustained a head injury while in military service, or that his current conditions are related to such an injury.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric symptoms, fatigue, skin rash, and headaches are not related to his service in the Persian Gulf War or any other service-connected condition. The criteria for service connection based on the provisions applicable to veterans of the Persian Gulf War were not met.

The VA has denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for her service-connected migraine headaches, cysts of both wrists, and status post Austin bunionectomy residuals under 38 C.F.R. § 3.321(b)(1). The appeals are based on direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the veteran's conditions. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected migraine headaches do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as there is no evidence of characteristic prostrating attacks.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic headaches, ulcer/stomach condition (presumably peptic ulcer disease), and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine are not related to service. Therefore, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, finding no association between the current diagnosed migraines and the veteran's period of active service.,The Board also denied an increased disability rating greater than 10 percent for the upper-right-chest scar with history of right pneumothorax and left hydrothorax.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for tension headaches and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support higher evaluations under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The veteran's service-connected CFS is rated at 40 percent, effective from November 24, 1999. His service-connected migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, also effective from November 24, 1999.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, as they are not considered to have been incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a travel board hearing and further adjudication of his service connection claims.

The veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is presumed due to service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War, and she meets the criteria for a 10 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 7319.

The veteran's death was not the result of his own willful misconduct, and he had a combined schedular disability evaluation of 80% due to service-connected disabilities. However, he did not have a total disability rating for 10 years prior to his death, nor was he entitled to a total disability based on individual unemployability for 10 years prior to his death.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, migraine headaches, and hypertension. The evidence does not support these claims as they are not related to military service.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tension headaches has been withdrawn. The case remains with the issue of an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Buerger's disease, residuals of a head injury and concussion with residual headaches, and skin disorder (claimed as due to exposure to herbicides) because new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for carcinoma of the colon and bowel obstruction, heart murmur, headaches, and hypertension (claimed as nausea) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicides.