Migraines & headaches decisions — 2009

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for TMJ with headaches, and it is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD and dysthymia/depressive disorder, and for a neck disability and headaches. The claim for increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's VA facilities were not feasibly available to provide necessary care on April 2 and 3, 2006 due to her headaches. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for nonservice-connected pension was denied because his service did not meet the threshold eligibility requirements, specifically due to lack of wartime service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on a direct and secondary basis are denied as there is no competent evidence of record showing that any claimed conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private and VA treatment records and conducting further medical examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed headaches and rectal disorder/hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder disability and headaches disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of the current assigned ratings.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for headaches, residuals of head injury. The Veteran's current diagnosis of post-traumatic seizures and headaches raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, left knee and ankle disabilities, low back disability, neck disability, right wrist disability, and migraine headaches was denied. The appeal is also denied regarding the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for memory loss, headaches (claimed as migraines), and depressive disorder (claimed as nerves) have been denied. The evidence does not establish a link between the current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeals were denied as his service-connected conditions did not warrant higher initial disability ratings. The Board found that the current evaluations under the applicable diagnostic codes adequately reflected the severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for psoriasis, residuals of a fracture of the right fourth finger between the metatarsal and wrist, and migraines were denied. The Board found that her service-connected conditions did not warrant higher disability ratings based on the current evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee pain and leg cramps due to an undiagnosed illness during service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations. The upper respiratory disability (rhinitis), TMJ, and headaches are not considered related to service.

The Veteran's migraines occur twice per week, last approximately 24 hours, are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia, and require bed rest at all times during the pendency of the appeal. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Board found that the Veteran's current headaches and memory loss are less likely as not caused by or due to his head injury in 1980, which occurred during active duty. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS and tinea versicolor, as well as his increased rating claim for migraine headaches, have been denied. The Veteran does not currently have a diagnosis of IBS, and the Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of service connection for these conditions. His migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent disabling.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to noise exposure during his military service. The claim of service connection for migraine headaches is remanded due to a need for additional development.

Service connection is granted for vision problems due to exposure to herbicides. Service connection is denied for undifferentiated connective tissue disease, prostate problems, fibromyalgia, memory problems, and PTSD.,The Veteran's migraine headaches are service-connected.