Migraines & headaches decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, determining whether the Veteran engaged in combat during service, and attempting to corroborate the Veteran's alleged in-service stressors. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's bilateral foot dysethesias, pes planus, chronic sinusitis with headaches, and right knee chondromalacia are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, traumatic brain injury, headaches, and tinnitus are denied as there is no credible evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of additional VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of chronic residuals of encephalitis or chronic headaches, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have headaches that are related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's migraine or tension headaches were not incurred in service and the claim for service connection was denied. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for somatization disorder is pending.

The Veteran's headaches, disability manifested by choking and difficulty swallowing (GERD), and erectile dysfunction are all found to be related to service. However, the Veteran's skin cancer is not considered service-connected as it was not shown during service or within one year of separation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic headaches was denied. The maximum rating authorized under the applicable VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (Diagnostic Code 8100) has been assigned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and migraine headaches were denied, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service. The claim for an initial compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder and chorioretinal scar, as well as initial ratings for migraine headaches and GERD. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board found no credible medical evidence linking the Veteran's migraine headaches to his military service or to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability, hip disabilities, and adjustment disorder. The Veteran also raised new claims regarding right knee and foot disabilities secondary to his hip disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for a bilateral eye disorder and headaches claimed as secondary to a bilateral eye disorder are both denied. The Board found no current disability related to the in-service incident, and the Veteran's headaches were not determined to be proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for mechanical low back pain, left and right knee retropatellar pain syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, sinusitis, migraine headaches, hypertension, and benign prostatic hypertrophy were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of migraine headache was denied as the evidence did not show a valid claim prior to November 29, 2002.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities and considering new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches and major depression were not incurred or aggravated in service, and thus denied her claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed migraine headaches are not related to military service and have denied his claim for service connection.