Migraines & headaches decisions — 2008

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's headaches and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that neither condition warranted a rating higher than the current assigned ratings.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records and conduct further development, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, headaches, tinnitus, a skin rash (presumably due to herbicide exposure), and a psychiatric disorder (presumably PTSD). The claim for residuals of a right ankle injury was also denied as new and material evidence had not been received since the previous denial.

The appellant's claims for chronic fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, and joint pain due to an undiagnosed illness as a result of service in the Southwest Asia theater during the Persian Gulf War were denied.

The veteran's degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is not attributable to his period of military service, and it was not manifested within one year of his separation from service. The VA examiner found no link between the veteran's headaches and dizziness and his period of service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected headaches.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current low back disability, bilateral hip disability, or sinusitis. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and PTSD have been granted. The claims for insomnia, fatigue, and joint pains have been denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, memory loss, and a gastrointestinal disorder. The Board found that there is no current evidence of a diagnosed gastrointestinal disorder.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss and service connection for tension headaches. The appeal was not about service connection for a bilateral foot disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for xerosis and other conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, vertigo, chronic fatigue syndrome, folliculitis, right ankle disability, aphthous ulcers, sinus tachycardia, rhinosinusitis, hypertension, migraine headaches, and bilateral hearing loss. The psychiatric condition is also service connected.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and tinnitus, as well as his claim for astigmatism and marginal blepharitis (bilateral eye pain), finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen any of these claims.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD, right ear hearing loss, or left ear hearing loss attributable to military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bladder cancer and cluster headaches, are being remanded due to the failure of the veteran to appear at a scheduled hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, a heart murmur, and bronchitis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, memory loss, and gastrointestinal problems other than diarrhea as claimed due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability. The claims were reopened on new evidence but the conditions could not be clinically correlated to a specific diagnosis.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for chronic headaches due to new and material evidence. However, the claim is denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current chronic headaches to his active service or to his service-connected low back strain.

The Board has vacated the February 2008 decision denying non-service-connected pension and remanded for further development. The veteran's claim is now pending again, with a focus on determining if he is permanently and totally disabled.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for vascular headaches, peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease of both upper and lower extremities, tinea pedis/fungus infection/onychomycosis of both feet, all claimed as secondary to cold exposure. The decision also denies his claims for new and material evidence regarding service connection for residuals of cold injury; bilateral hearing loss; weakness and numbness of both lower and upper extremities; disability of both hands, manifested by pain, stiffness, and cold sensitivity; disability of both feet, manifested by pain, stiffness, fallen arches, and cold sensitivity; sinusitis; bilateral ankle disability; and bilateral knee disability.