Migraines & headaches decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and migraine headaches. The case will be remanded to obtain relevant medical records and to schedule VA examinations.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches from December 2, 2004, based on the severity and frequency of the veteran's attacks.

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and erectile dysfunction, which are currently linked to his hypertension. The decision will also address whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current eye disorder, cardiovascular disease, or headaches due to service. The claims of service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, increased evaluations, and effective dates related to his disabilities. The appeals were not granted.

The Board finds that the veteran's Graves' disease, which manifested during his service and is now diagnosed, was incurred in service. The benefit of doubt has been resolved in favor of the veteran.

The Board has determined that the veteran's migraine headaches warrant a 50 percent disability rating, reflecting more severe symptoms and economic inadaptability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a head injury, an insect bite on the right arm, and headaches as secondary to a psychiatric disorder. The claim for service connection for a low back disorder was also denied. The July 1982 decision denying entitlement to service connection for headaches, a psychiatric disorder, and speech impediment is final.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for tachycardia, hypertension, and tension headaches. The veteran was not granted service connection for a heart disorder claimed as chest pain.

The Board found that the veteran's current disabilities are due to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident during service, which was caused by his willful misconduct. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current headaches are not related to service, including a head injury during service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's headaches with light sensitivity, related to his service-connected diplopia, warrant a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for migraine headaches, claimed as secondary to service-connected tinnitus. The veteran's new and material evidence includes private medical records indicating that he has 'severe' headaches, 'migraine in nature,' which could be associated with noise exposure in service.

The veteran's initial evaluations for his low back disability, sinusitis, and headaches were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for IV drug use/abuse as secondary to his service-connected MDD with PTSD symptoms. The issue of service connection for a headache disorder is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has granted a separate 30 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals, lipoma, back of right ear, with headaches and skull pain. The veteran is not entitled to a higher rating as his frequent prostrating attacks are not productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The veteran's cluster headaches were not incurred in or related to his military service. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and any incident during service.

The veteran's benign positional vertigo and cluster headaches were not incurred in service, nor are they related to his service-connected hearing loss or tinnitus.,There is no evidence of a relationship between the veteran's exposure to herbicides and his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for the veteran's headaches, as they are manifested by objective indications of chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness.,There is no evidence of abnormal weight loss during service and the veteran's post-service medical records show a consistent weight range. The Board finds that service connection for abnormal weight loss cannot be granted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral blindness, heat stroke, seizures, paranoid schizophrenia, PTSD, a spot on the lung, and headaches. The veteran's claims were found to be without merit based on the lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.