Migraines & headaches decisions — 2008

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA examinations and the obtaining of medical records to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran did not have a current diagnosis of headaches and there was no evidence linking any diagnosed condition to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for headaches was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and those secondary to radiation exposure. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's current headaches and any psychiatric disability are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected migraine headaches warrant a 30 percent evaluation, effective from October 8, 2003.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the veteran's experiences in Vietnam provided sufficient evidence of a stressor to support his claim. The other issues involving heart disease and reopening previously denied claims have been remanded.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective from April 29, 2003. He also has headaches and dizziness that are separately rated at 10 percent. The higher initial rating for PTSD remains in effect.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate notice provided to the veteran regarding his claims for increased ratings.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for reopening claims of service connection for a back disorder, diabetes mellitus with episodes of hypoglycemia, headaches, and vision loss with corneal scars of the right eye. The claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was not reopened.

The Board found that the veteran's headaches are secondary to her service-connected cervical spine disability and granted a 10 percent evaluation for arthritis of the cervical spine. The veteran is not entitled to an increased rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, residuals of frostbite of the feet, residuals of malaria, arthritis and migraine headaches. The evidence received since the previous decisions did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss in the left ear, headaches, or a psychiatric disorder that is service-connected. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, sinus condition, bilateral shoulder condition, hearing loss, tinnitus, low back condition, and knee condition as they are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disorder and chronic sinusitis with headaches, finding that there was no current disability and insufficient evidence to support a secondary service connection claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and an initial compensable evaluation for opthalmoplegic migraine headaches, finding that there was no evidence of current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for migraines since May 17, 2006. The veteran's headaches have been characterized by monthly prostrating attacks.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for chronic, recurrent headaches since the date of claim, which is the highest schedular rating available.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for migraines and a fungus affecting the neck and arms, as new evidence was submitted. The hearing loss claim is also granted.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches and granted a 30% initial rating for tinea capitis effective November 4, 2004. No higher rating was granted.