Migraines & headaches decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50 percent disability rating and TDIU is granted, as these benefits were warranted based on his service-connected right frontotemporal craniotomy with intractable headaches and reactive depression.

The veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, increased ratings for cervical strain and concussion with headaches, and a temporary total disability rating due to hospitalization were all denied.

The veteran's initial claim for a higher evaluation for post-traumatic headaches was granted, but the effective date of service connection remains June 13, 2001. The Board found that his headaches are not migrainous and do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's headaches have a frequency of two episodes per month and do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The VA determined that the veteran's current headache disability is not causally related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's headaches do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as they are not manifested by characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month over the last several months. The claim is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of craniopharyngioma, status post craniotomy due to a lack of medical evidence linking his current condition to military service.

The Board found no current disability for headaches and denied service connection. For the dental condition, the veteran already has been awarded service connection based on trauma during service, qualifying him for VA outpatient dental treatment.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for the purpose of obtaining additional medical information and providing her with additional information regarding her claims.

The veteran's claimed disabilities, including low back pain, knee pain, shoulder tendonitis, elbow epicondylitis, insomnia and lack of energy, memory loss, persistent cough, headaches, and nasal passage build-up, are not service-connected. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has reviewed the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions and finds that there is no competent or probative evidence linking any of these conditions to his military service, including alleged receipt of an anthrax vaccine. As such, the veteran's claims are denied.

The veteran's migraine headaches are service-connected, but his bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for pre-cancerous colon polyps, bilateral macular degeneration, and ocular migraines as these conditions are not shown to be related to the veteran's active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have migraine headaches or a back disability that may be attributed to service, and thus denied both claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, providing corrective VCAA notice, and re-adjudicating the claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA neurologic examination to determine if there are any current residuals from a head injury sustained during service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of permanent and total disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, hypertension, skin rash, stomach ulcers, and colon problems due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of migraine headaches and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying stressors. The veteran's claims for service connection are pending.