Migraines & headaches decisions — 2006

The Board found that the veteran's neck injury and headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by active duty. The preponderance of evidence is against the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability, neck pain, chronic headaches, depression and double vision due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between his current condition and active duty service. The Board found that the veteran did not have any cervical spine disability during or after service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, psychiatric disability (claimed as depression), migraine headaches, left hip disability, and left knee disability. The reasons were that the claimed conditions are not shown to be related to service.

The veteran's migraine headaches have been increased to a 30 percent evaluation effective May 11, 1993.

The Board found no evidence of a condition involving migraine headaches during service or within one year of discharge, and there is no causal relationship between the veteran's currently diagnosed migraines and his active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current chronic headache disability and neck injury are not related to his active military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, gastrointestinal disorder, fatigue, chronic headache disorder, and a disorder producing memory loss.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected migraine headaches.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, arthritis of the shoulders and left knee, and stasis dermatitis as secondary to his service-connected furunculosis with scars.

The Board has determined that the veteran's headaches are not related to his service and have denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected tension headaches, which is the highest rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a chronic headache disorder related to his military service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and headaches with loss of balance, finding that these conditions are attributable to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent effective June 11, 2005. The other claims for service connection and initial ratings are granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral shoulder arthritis, hypertension, or headaches. The evidence does not support service connection for any of these conditions.,While the veteran claims he experienced symptoms during service and continues to experience them today, there is no medical evidence linking his current disabilities to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral pes planus, low back disability, bilateral knee disability, brain tumor, headaches, and bilateral shoulder disability. The evidence submitted since the initial denial was not considered material to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 15, 1992, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's disabilities do not render him unable to care for most of his daily needs without requiring A&A, and he is neither bedridden nor a patient in a nursing home. Therefore, the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance (A&A) or housebound status are not met.

The veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are found to be the primary cause of his unemployability, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to missing service medical records and a need for new VCAA compliant notice.