Migraines & headaches decisions — 2006

The Board granted service connection for a cyclothymic disorder (also diagnosed as anxiety disorder) and denied the remaining claims of service connection.

The Board has granted a noncompensable rating for the veteran's service-connected headache disorder prior to September 20, 2005. From that date, a 30 percent rating is granted.

The veteran's claims of service connection for multiple sclerosis, rectal incontinence, and headaches were denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased PTSD, a compensable duodenal ulcer evaluation, and service connection for headaches secondary to head injury and PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected muscle contract headaches and compression fracture C5-C6 with degenerative disc disease, left upper extremity involvement have not been found to warrant higher disability ratings.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for migraine headaches, finding that the veteran's symptomatology did not meet the criteria for a 10% evaluation under Diagnostic Code (DC) 8100 due to lack of prostrating attacks and inability to show significant functional loss or disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence, including obtaining a VA examination and opinion regarding his anxiety disorder claim. Additionally, he needs VCAA notice concerning increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's skin lesions, headaches, and left knee joint pain were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of undiagnosed illness for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence of a present disability manifested by symptoms including ophthalmic migraines, narcolepsy, or blackouts and no competent evidence of a present disability manifested by vision problems. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The service-connected maxillary sinusitis, with headaches, is currently shown to be productive of nasal congestion requiring the use of nasal saline spray and antihistamine, weekly migraine headaches, and episodes of sinusitis accompanied by scabbing, purulent discharge, crusting, and epistaxis, once or twice a year. The criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to incomplete information regarding his National Guard service and the December 1976 automobile accident. The case will be reviewed again after obtaining this missing information.

The Board found no competent and persuasive evidence linking the veteran's current migraine headaches to his military service, resulting in a denial of the claim.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to provide proper hearing notification. The case will be returned for further action.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected disabilities and determine whether she meets the criteria for increased ratings or service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches. However, the Board finds that the veteran does not have a current disability of migraine headaches or any other claimed conditions (hiatal hernia, dermatitis, major depressive disorder, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine) that are related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a headache disorder during service and insufficient medical evidence to link the current condition to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of jungle rot of the feet, a headache disorder, and a left knee disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that any current disabilities are related to service.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the June 1997 rating decision that assigned an effective date of January 23, 1989 for a 100% disability evaluation to the veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder. The appeal was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability related to service for headaches or a psychiatric disorder, and therefore denied both claims.

The veteran's condition, which includes migraine headaches, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not show very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability to warrant a higher rating.