Migraines & headaches decisions — 2007

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, and anxiety. The claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.

The Board has granted a 50% evaluation for the veteran's service-connected headaches and found that he is entitled to this higher rating. The claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus was also granted, as there is current evidence of the condition. However, the issue regarding residuals of right neck and shoulder injury remains pending due to new evidence submitted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an ophthalmologic examination. The issues of service connection for glaucoma, increased rating for anxiety disorder with headaches, and increased rating for hypertension are pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus with sciatica pain to both lower extremities, arthritis, and anxiety disorder. The veteran's service connection claim for these conditions was decided on the merits.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development due to the need to determine if his current headaches, hypertension, and claimed heat stroke residuals are related to service.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 9, 1978 for the grant of service connection for headaches. The RO properly combined the veteran's disabilities in a 60 percent combined evaluation and denied the appeal as to this issue.

For the period March 6, 2002, to June 15, 2006, the veteran's chronic headaches were manifested by frequent attacks, with periods where they would occur daily, sometimes with photophobia, but not so severe as to be considered prostrating.,The veteran's chronic headaches are currently manifested by headaches indicative of characteristic prostrating attacks; however, severe economic inadaptability has not been shown.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for allergies and for increased ratings for sinusitis with rhinitis and sinus headaches, as well as for a meniscal tear of the right knee. The appeals were based on his self-reported history of allergies that worsened during active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension, migraines, and residuals of a left shoulder/clavicle fracture. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for sinusitis and vascular headaches were denied as there is no evidence of incapacitating episodes or very frequent prostrating attacks.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach disorder, heart disorder, and migraine headaches. The appeals are dismissed as the veteran withdrew his appeal with respect to the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for a paraspinal mid thoracic muscle ligament strain.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension.,Service connection was denied for migraine headaches, a psychiatric disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease, trigger thumb, hearing loss, loss of eyesight, and stuttering as these conditions were not shown during or after service.

The Board has determined that additional efforts are needed to verify the veteran's in-service stressors for PTSD and to conduct a comprehensive examination of his tension headaches. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine injury and headaches are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine their likely etiology.

The veteran's initial claim for a higher evaluation for migraine headaches prior to March 22, 2005 was granted and assigned a 30 percent rating effective from that date. The issue of service connection for bilateral tinnitus is also addressed.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome, flat feet with associated ankle pain, headaches and cholecystectomy residuals were granted effective March 17, 1997.

The Board found that new evidence submitted by the appellant does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate his claim of service connection for PTSD and headaches/dizziness, as he did not provide evidence showing he was insane at the time of committing offenses leading to his discharge. The RO's January 2000 determination remains final.

The Board granted a rating of 50 percent for the veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and assigned an effective date of December 20, 2007.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral otitis media, right ear hearing loss disability, and tension headaches due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. He is currently receiving the maximum rating available for his bilateral tympanic membrane perforations, and factors warranting extraschedular consideration are neither shown nor alleged. The veteran reports that his headaches occur on a daily basis, occasionally requiring him to lay down in bed or on the couch.