Migraines & headaches decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed headaches and low back disability are not related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The veteran's headaches are rated as noncompensable due to the lack of characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in 2 months, and the preponderance of evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, granted service connection for Morton's neuroma of the right foot as secondary to a service-connected left foot disability, and denied service connection for a left ankle disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of jungle rot of the feet and a headache disorder, finding that these conditions are related to service based on combat presumption.

The veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent, and no higher rating is warranted. The veteran's hearing loss with tympanoplasty remains noncompensable. The veteran's dysthymic disorder continues to be rated at 30 percent. The veteran's post-concussion headaches remain rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for service connection for pituitary adenoma, hypopituitarism, and headaches due to asbestos exposure in service is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions (tinea pedis, low back strain, cervical strain, or residuals of a head injury) that are service-connected. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's cluster headaches, finding that his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for left side weakness/numbness is also REMANDED.

The veteran's migraine headaches are productive of several prostrating attacks per month, resulting in a 30 percent disability rating.

The veteran's visual acuity is not a disease for VA compensation benefits.,Service connection for headaches and residuals of an eye injury was denied in April 1977, and no new material evidence has been received since then. The claim remains denied.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his low back and left knee disorders, as well as service connection for asthma, migraine headaches, and right maculopathy of the eye were granted. The effective date for these grants is September 8, 2005.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple joint pains to include the neck, hands, ankles, heels, right shoulder, and right elbow. Service connection for depression is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's craniofacial fibrous dysplasia and chronic headaches existed prior to enlistment and were not aggravated by service.

The veteran's cluster headaches are currently rated as 30 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and migraine headaches prior to October 19, 2004, and to an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent from October 19, 2004, was denied. The veteran is only entitled to a maximum 10 percent rating for his service-connected tinnitus.

The veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be service-connected due to lack of evidence linking them to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and migraine headaches, as well as his request for an increased evaluation for right leg sciatica. The veteran was not granted any of these benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus and service connection for visual loss, headaches, and PTSD/anxiety disorder. The decision also addressed issues of entitlement to service connection for headaches and PTSD/anxiety disorder, which were remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and readjudicating the claims.

The veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including the request for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for various symptoms. The Board has dismissed these appeals.