Migraines & headaches decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of headaches, an acquired eye disorder, or missing teeth and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's short-term memory loss, fatigue, and headaches are due to undiagnosed illnesses incurred in service. The right knee disorder is secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied a rating higher than 30 percent before September 12, 2002, and a rating higher than 50 percent from September 12, 2002, for sinusitis and migraine headaches. The current rating of 50 percent is the maximum schedular rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the etiology of various conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within the applicable presumptive period, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection for rhinitis. The veteran's migraine headaches were remanded due to insufficient recent medical records and need for more current findings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right hand/wrist disorder, headache disorder, and loss of a tooth. The Board found no evidence to support these claims based on direct service connection or any other presumption.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen claims for service connection for headaches and scars, but denied the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD.,Service connection was not granted for headaches or scars.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for hypertension, depression, headaches as secondary to hypertension, panic attacks as secondary to hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II (DMII).

The Board has determined that the veteran's muscle tension headaches do not warrant a compensable rating, and his low back disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher than 20 percent evaluation.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and evidence regarding her claimed conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a local personal hearing. The issues include service connection and increased rating claims.

The case is being remanded for the appellant to be scheduled for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The RO should notify the appellant of the date, time and place of the hearing.

The Board has denied the veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left leg, chronic headaches, and prostate disorder. The RO made all reasonable efforts to assist the veteran in developing his claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for a neck disorder and headaches. As such, these claims remain denied.

The Board granted service connection for a headache disorder as residual of skull fracture, but denied service connection for bilateral knee disorders. The veteran was assigned a 10% rating for his left supraorbital scar.

The veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches with a tension component was granted, but the RO continued to deny any increase in rating from March 2, 2006. The current rating of 10 percent is considered appropriate given the frequency and severity of her symptoms prior to that date.

The Board found that the veteran's neck disorder and headaches are not related to his service-connected left shoulder disability, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of herniated nucleus pulposus materially contributed to his death. Therefore, the appellant is eligible for educational benefits under Chapter 35 of Title 38, United States Code.

The veteran's headaches are found to be related to his inservice head trauma, and he is granted service connection for this condition.,There were no residuals of the head injury noted in the service records or subsequent evaluations. The examiner opined that it was at least as likely as not post-traumatic in origin.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities (especially major depression and migraine headaches) are permanently disabling. The case will be returned to the Board for further consideration.