Migraines & headaches decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inconsistencies in medical evidence and to obtain a VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the local RO.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of evidence, including notification regarding disability retirement status.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current diagnosis of a headache disorder and finds that service connection for headaches is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current chronic headache disorder did not begin in service and is not otherwise causally related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for headaches was denied.

The Board denied a rating greater than 10 percent for the residuals of tonsillectomy and post-auricular and groin adenopathy with headaches, but granted an increased rating to 10 percent effective October 2002. The claim for reopening a final disallowed gastrointestinal disorder was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and a compensable rating of 10% for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's migraine headaches are presumed to have been incurred in active service, while his bilateral hearing loss is rated based on the severity of his condition.

The Board determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including residuals of a head injury and headaches, were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his time in service.

The veteran's service-connected headaches are currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given the frequency of his headache attacks.

The veteran's claim for service connection for malaria was denied. The RO granted service connection for filariasis, post-traumatic headaches, and degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with initial ratings in excess of 10 percent. A 40% rating is assigned for degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine effective October 19, 2005.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, a higher rating for post-traumatic headaches, and TDIU were denied as the evidence did not support service connection or entitlement to increased ratings.

The veteran's service-connected cluster of migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, effective July 8, 2003. The right knee disability and major depressive disorder were not found to be related to active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, a right knee condition, a left knee condition, headaches, and a sinus condition. The VA examinations did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other chronic conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to service-connected migraine headaches and assigned a 70 percent evaluation, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected sinusitis, left shoulder disorder, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic respiratory disorder in service or that it developed thereafter, and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cluster headaches, secondary to hypertension and did not reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for hypertension.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension with nosebleeds, chronic fatigue due to an undiagnosed illness, and headaches due to an undiagnosed illness. The reasons provided were that there was no evidence of these conditions during service or a link between them and military service.

The Board has determined that the reduction in evaluation from 30 percent to zero percent disabling for kidney stones was improper. The veteran's GERD, headaches, Raynaud's syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and dermatophytosis of the hands and subungual tinea of the right ring finger were not granted higher initial evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that new evidence did not establish a current disability or link to his service-connected right knee disability.