Migraines & headaches decisions — 2008

The veteran's initial rating for headaches was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on frequency of attacks.

The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses or etiological links between the veteran's claimed conditions and his active service, leading to a denial of all claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's headaches and vertigo are not related to his military service, and thus cannot be granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records and further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, and his chronic disability manifested by headaches, sleepiness, and dizziness is not due to an undiagnosed illness as a result of Persian Gulf War service. The claim for increased rating for multiple lipomas was also denied.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected headaches, effective from April 16, 2007. The veteran experienced at least two to three prostrating headaches per week that lasted up to four hours and required him to lie in a dark and quiet room.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for migraine headaches and sinus headaches, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred. The claim for service connection for headaches remains pending as new and material evidence has not yet been received.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his period of active service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for service-connected migraine headaches is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and development of his work capacity.

The veteran's headaches due to brain trauma are rated at 10 percent, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they do not involve neurological disabilities or multi-infarct dementia.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a video conference hearing at his local Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, VA Regional Office.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a thyroid disorder, headaches, memory loss, and hypertension to include as due to an undiagnosed illness. The issues of service connection for an upper respiratory condition, immune system deficiency, allergic reaction secondary to an immune system deficiency, and skin disability have also been denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination of her GERD and an evaluation by a physician knowledgeable in fibromyalgia.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, but his claim to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for headaches and blackouts due to head trauma is now reopened. The earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits remains denied.

The Board found no current disability related to service for pseudotumor cerebri, headaches, tinnitus, or low back pain. Therefore, the veteran's claims for these conditions were denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of lipoma excision, bilateral impairment of visual acuity, and disability manifested by dizziness are granted. The claim for a disability manifested by impaired thought process is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a headache disorder, allowing the veteran to proceed with this claim.,Service connection is not granted for the respiratory disorder as there is no competent evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for sinus disorder. The veteran's claim for service connection was previously denied in January 2003, but new evidence submitted since then does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim. His current sinus condition has not met the criteria for a higher disability rating.