Migraines & headaches decisions — 2008

The veteran's depression is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and hepatitis is denied as there is no current diagnosis. The chronic headache disorder claim is pending and will be addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed neck and back injuries, including headaches, dizziness, sleep problems, and numbness in the extremities, were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and information from SSA.

The Board has determined that the veteran's headache disorder is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected cervical spine degenerative joint disease (DJD) and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability and headaches were not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran is seeking service connection for neck sprain and headaches, but the claims are currently in a pending status due to insufficient evidence. The Board finds that additional development is needed before these claims can be adjudicated.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the veteran's current headaches are related to his service.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and a VA examination.

The veteran's claims were granted, with increased disability ratings assigned. Service connection was established for migraine headaches, lumbar spine disc disease, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The RO also denied his requests for higher ratings for his service-connected left hip and left knee disabilities, as well as adjustment disorder.

The Board has determined that the appellant's tension headaches, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and chronic obstructive sleep apnea are due to active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis with headaches and blurred vision disability, but denied service connection for lung condition, fibromyalgia, low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision is based on the reopening of claims due to new evidence provided by the veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches and assigned a 10 percent evaluation. The effective date remains pending as the issue of reopening the claim for hearing loss is still under consideration.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to an initial evaluation of 30 percent for her service-connected migraine headaches, but not higher. The veteran's neuroma, to include the right ankle and bilateral feet, was not addressed in this decision.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, depression, hypertension, gastrointestinal issues, and other physical complaints are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and her military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as he is unemployed due to his non-service-connected heart problems and COPD.

The Board finds that the appellant experienced a traumatic external event during her inactive duty for training in September 1992, which caused an existing acoustic neuroma to become symptomatic by way of aggravation. The resulting symptoms include nausea, headaches, vertigo, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that the veteran's current problems in his right ankle are related to those he had during service. The claim for chronic headaches is still pending and will be addressed on remand.

The Board has remanded the case for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any right elbow, left elbow, or headache disorders. The veteran will be provided a new examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's migraines headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.