Migraines & headaches decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's IBS and fibromyalgia are separate disabilities from his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, warranting separate disability ratings. The Veteran is now rated at a 40 percent for fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic headaches, prostatitis, and sleep apnea due to herbicide exposure have been denied as there is no positive association between such conditions and his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a head trauma and low back disorder were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records. The issues of a higher initial rating for post-traumatic headaches and TDIU are currently on appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of these claims, including scheduling VA examinations for the Veteran and requesting relevant private treatment records.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities of headaches and earaches are not considered to be related to the carelessness, negligence, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA during a VA medical procedure in October 2004. Therefore, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for cervical strain with degenerative disc disease at C4-5 and C5-6 was denied. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for migraine headaches was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further adjudication due to incomplete records and need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine the etiology of her headaches and readjudication of her increased rating claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's rhinitis and headaches are not related to service, including as due to undiagnosed illness in the Persian Gulf. The evidence does not establish chronic disability manifested by symptoms of rhinitis and headaches.

The Board found no evidence of a head injury during service and ruled out current residuals of any presumed in-service head injury. The Veteran's headaches are more likely due to sub-occipital neuralgia, from neck and shoulder injuries.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic headaches, hypertension, or a dental disorder. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a bilateral foot disability, and a bilateral hand disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's DJD and DDD of the cervical spine, including associated radiculopathy (claimed as condition of the feet and hands and shoulder pain), is not related to service.,Service connection for headaches with loss of vision is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's migraine headache disability as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current headache disorder is related to his active service or any in-service disease or injury.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a chronic headache disorder, with the Board finding that her headaches most likely had their onset during military service and continue to this day.

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches, dizziness and blackouts were not related to service or head trauma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for tuberculosis, gastroenteritis, and headaches have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The noncompensable rating assigned for right shoulder bursitis is also denied.