Migraines & headaches decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service accident.

The Board has granted service connection for aggravation of a preexisting personality disorder and service connection for GERD. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a craniotomy/cranioplasty, including headaches, bipolar disorder, traumatic brain injury with organic brain syndrome, and cognitive disorder. The veteran's conditions are deemed to be directly related to his in-service surgery.

The Board found that the veteran's migraine headaches do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, as there is no evidence of prostrating attacks and he does not report losing time from work or school due to his headaches.

The veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, bilateral hip disabilities, and left ankle disabilities have been denied as there is no competent evidence of current chronic disabilities.,VA examinations did not find any underlying chronic conditions that could account for the veteran's reported symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not timely file a substantive appeal regarding the May 2004 denial of service connection for sarcoidosis. As such, the Board does not have jurisdiction to consider this claim on its merits.

The veteran has withdrawn all of his claims, including those for service connection and evaluations for various conditions. The appeal is dismissed.

The veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for cervical headaches and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development of evidence, including obtaining VA medical records and notifying the veteran about what evidence would be needed to reopen his service connection claims.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including head injury, headache disorder, vision impairment, neck disorder, back disorder, and tinnitus, as there is no medical evidence of current diagnoses or a causal link to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the submission of new evidence by the veteran, including a list of doctors who have provided treatment and a consent form. The RO is instructed to obtain updated VA treatment records from the VAMC in Atlanta and any other facility identified by the veteran or in VA records at which treatment has been provided.

The veteran's headaches are currently evaluated as noncompensable, and her right thigh post-lipoma scar is rated at 10 percent since March 27, 2007.,A higher rating for the veteran's headaches or right thigh post-lipoma scar is denied.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 or 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before a decision can be reached on the merits of the veteran's claim for service connection for headaches.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not timely file a notice of disagreement with the April 2003 rating decision, and therefore, the April 2003 rating decision is final. The claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for renal failure and service connection for congestive heart failure secondary to renal failure are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's current sinusitis with headaches is related to his military service.

The veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for residuals of head trauma with headaches is dismissed.,VA denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 15, 2006 for additional compensation for qualifying dependents. The earliest effective date available was March 15, 2006.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, including as secondary to in-service chickenpox, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic headache disability during active service and insufficient competent medical evidence linking post-service diagnoses to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's kyphoscoliosis and degenerative changes of the thoracic spine were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may such be presumed.,Similarly, the cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may such be presumed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee disorder, right eye condition, bilateral trench foot, headaches, depression secondary to a service-connected right thumb disability, right knee disorder, throat disorder, pes planus, and back disorder. The claims are therefore denied.