Migraines & headaches decisions — 2006

The Board has granted service connection for the appellant's claimed residuals of a head injury with resultant headaches and neck injury, finding that his complaints of persistent headaches since service are related to an in-service neck injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete examination and treatment records, requiring further development of the claim.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric conditions, sleep disorders, attention deficit disorder, speech disorders, and memory loss. However, it granted service connection for headaches and sinus problems as due to undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. His bilateral hearing loss claim was not supported by evidence of a current disability, while his headaches, back pain, and thumb sprain claims resulted in maximum allowable ratings.

The veteran's post-traumatic headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, the highest available rating for this condition. His bilateral hearing loss is not compensable.

The veteran's claims for higher disability evaluations for his service-connected scars, anxiety, and headaches status post concussive syndrome were denied. The RO found that the current ratings adequately reflected the severity of these conditions.

The veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The veteran's Bell's palsy is currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran is entitled to an initial rating of 30 percent for migraine headaches, effective from the date of his claim (April 16, 1996), and higher than 30 percent on and after February 25, 1999. The Board found that he had characteristic prostrating attacks at least once per month during this period.

The Board found that the veteran's headaches pre-existed service and were not aggravated by military service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection due to a lack of credible evidence showing he was on active duty at the time of his motorcycle accident.

The Board found that the veteran's cluster headaches existed prior to service and were not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing head injury did not result in aggravation during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, dizziness, impairment of vision, and hypertension due to undiagnosed illness. The veteran's tinnitus was assigned a 10% disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a left hand and forearm condition, back condition, and headaches. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and increased ratings were granted, with a noncompensable evaluation initially assigned for bilateral hearing loss from October 29, 2001, and a 40 percent evaluation thereafter. The other claims remain pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's migraine headaches are not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches, hearing loss, and low back disability. The veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for each of these conditions.

The veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches are not service-connected.,His claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the veteran's hypertension and headaches are related to service, including his service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability did not warrant a higher rating prior to October 25, 2005 and was only rated at 10 percent from that date. The cervical spine disability was also rated at 10 percent from October 25, 2005. The veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal headaches were rated as noncompensable prior to October 25, 2005 and a rating higher than 10 percent beginning that date.