Migraines & headaches decisions — 2007

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for migraines, finding that the veteran's prostrating attacks occur more than once a month.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and found that the veteran's migraine headaches are not related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for hypertension, depression, and arthritis of the left shoulder. Other claims remain pending.

The Board found that the veteran's medical expenses incurred at SouthCrest Hospital on December 2, 2003 were not covered by VA because prior authorization was not obtained and there was no emergency condition warranting immediate treatment.

The Board found no evidence of chronic fever or an undiagnosed illness resulting in chronic fever during service or within one year after separation. Service connection for back pain, joint pain, decreased hearing, decreased vision, breathing difficulties, headaches, and liver and abdominal pain were also denied as they did not meet the specific requirements of the Persian Gulf War provisions.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder and headache disorder in July 2002. The veteran submitted new evidence suggesting a possible link to the Gulf War environment, which could potentially reopen his claims.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected residuals of skull fracture with scalp laceration, cerebral concussion and post-traumatic headache. The case is being remanded to determine if TDIU should be granted based on this condition alone.

The Board found that there is no competent or credible evidence of a chronic headache disorder in service and it was not related to service. The claim for direct service connection was denied.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for migraines and urinary incontinence were denied, as the current ratings are at their maximum under applicable diagnostic codes. The claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and a cervical spine disorder, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease leading to these conditions. The claim for psychiatric disability was also denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cardiac disability, headaches, and sleep apnea. The claim for respiratory disability is remanded.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for post-traumatic vascular headaches, effective from November 30, 2001. The veteran's headaches are productive of characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of more than once a month.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and denied increased disability ratings for joint pain in hands and knees, hiatal hernia with reflux esophagitis, gastritis, and duodenitis, and chronic muscle tension headaches. The veteran's claim was reopened on new evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, abnormal weight loss, sleep disturbances, frequent diarrhea, and memory problems as due to an undiagnosed illness. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The veteran's headaches, residuals of a head injury, are rated at 10 percent and the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with the effective date of the grant being unknown. The conditions are related to her exposure to organophosphates during her Gulf War service.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected mechanical low back pain, effective from September 26, 2003. The other issues were not addressed as they are not currently before the Board.

The Board found no evidence of service-connected conditions or undiagnosed illnesses for the claimed disabilities, leading to a denial of all claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board Hearing at the RO in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss in the left ear is denied by operation of law.,The veteran's initial rating claims have been granted, with a 30 percent rating assigned for his right knee disability.