Migraines & headaches decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected migraines are severe enough to prevent him from obtaining employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, but granted service connection for a headache due to an undiagnosed illness. The arthritis of the knees is not considered service-connected.

The veteran's service connection claims for migraine headaches and gastritis have been granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability and headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied both claims.

The veteran is seeking service connection for various health conditions, including migraine headaches, lung disease, heart disease, bladder cancer, and skin cancer. The appeal will be remanded to obtain additional information about the veteran's exposure during his military service in India.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for amblyopia, initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for his right knee disability, and initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disorder and migraine headaches.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 30, 2003 for a 30 percent evaluation for left sided headaches. The RO assigned this rating based on increased frequency and intensity of headaches reported since January 30, 2003.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and separate evaluations for the service-connected conditions listed. The case is dismissed.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to her service, including hypertension, migraine headaches, left knee disorder, and neck disorder. Therefore, service connection was denied for all issues.

The veteran's only service-connected condition, post-traumatic headaches, is not severe enough to qualify him for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability or special monthly compensation due to the need for aid and attendance or housebound status. The Board finds that his disabilities do not meet the criteria for these benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for headaches as a separate disability, finding that the correct facts were not before them at the time of their decision in October 1987.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right great toe injury, and granted service connection for pes cavus and chronic headaches at non-compensable ratings. The denial is based on the lack of current evidence of a right great toe disability.

The veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The veteran's service connection claims for syncopal episodes with hypotension, left internal carotid artery aneurysm, headaches, and bilateral plantar fasciitis were granted. The claim for lower extremity bruising (claimed as spider veins) was denied. An initial higher evaluation of 40 percent was granted for myofacial pain syndrome of the lumbosacral spine with rotational scoliosis, also claimed as radiculopathy.

The veteran's headaches have been related to his service-connected cervical muscle strain with degenerative changes, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected hypoglycemia, tension headaches, and sinusitis due to the need for further examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have new and material evidence to reopen her claims of service connection for defective hearing and headaches. The previous denial remains in effect.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35. The Board found that diabetes mellitus, hypertension, migraine headaches, and impotence were service-connected but did not find them to be the primary or contributory causes of the veteran's death from hepatocellular carcinoma.

The Board found that the veteran's current headaches did not have their onset in active service and were not related to his period of active military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected tension headaches, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation due to inconsistent reports of prostrating attacks and well-controlled symptoms with medication.