Migraines & headaches decisions — 2008

The veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 10 percent, and the other claims for service connection were denied.

The veteran was granted a 70 percent initial rating for depressive disorder with anxiety, effective from October 15, 2003. Other claims were denied or not addressed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's testicular nodule, cervical radiculopathy, peripheral neuropathy, sleep apnea, anemia, periodontitis, hemorrhoids, depression (related to PTSD), migraine headaches, and carpal tunnel syndrome are not related to his active service. However, the veteran's depression is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and headache disorder were reopened, but denied. The other claims for service connection for a right hip disorder, neck and spinal cord disorder with muscle spasms, and right leg disorder were also denied.

The veteran's service connection for migraine headaches was granted, while the claims for arthritis of the bilateral hands and fingers, wrists, and knees were remanded.

The Board remands the appeal for a VA medical examination to assess the combined effects of the veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board denied service connection for a headache disability as there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or that the condition is attributable to service.

The veteran was granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD and a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's military service and any of the claimed disabilities.

The veteran's headaches are granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a fractured left mandible.

The veteran's tension headaches are rated at 30 percent, and the other conditions remain at their current ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating, as well as an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his thoracic spine disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a concussion, neurocardiogenic syncope, and headaches were denied as there was no evidence of current disability or nexus to service.

The veteran's residuals of a septorhinoplasty, including chronic headaches and nasal passage obstruction, are rated at 30 percent.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for headaches, neck pain, and a nervous stomach to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC, for further development.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal or etiological relationship between any of these conditions and her military service.

The Board denied service connection for all the claimed conditions, except for pseudoptosis and paralysis of trigeminal nerve which were rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's migraine headaches were found to be no more than 30 percent disabling, as the evidence did not show severe economic inadaptability or very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for a scar on the head, and claims for service connection for chronic headaches and lumbar disc disease were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his time in service.

The Board finds that an effective date of July 22, 2002 may be assigned for the 30 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected headaches.