Migraines & headaches decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, seizure disorder (temporal lobe seizures), and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current neck and headache disorders to his service, including a parachute jump injury. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate reasons and bases in previous decisions, as well as other procedural issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed headaches and scars of the face and scalp are related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for blackouts and heat exhaustion. The Veteran's claim for headaches was reopened, but the Board did not make a decision on whether the new evidence supports service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has aggravated his left leg and arm spasticity, as well as his headaches. The Board finds that these conditions are secondary to the service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of throbbing shoulder pain, bilateral wrist disorder, and a disability rating greater than 30 percent for service-connected abdominal hysterectomy due to endometriosis have been dismissed as she has withdrawn her appeal concerning these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including residuals of an injury to the coccyx, low sex drive, headaches, and bilateral hearing loss, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for defective hearing, lupus, a disability manifested by pain and tingling in the extremities (claimed as Camp Lejeune exposure), ulcer disease (duodenal ulcer), and headaches. The decision also denied reopening of his claim for defective hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration disability records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the extent of his service-connected migraine headaches.

Effective October 20, 2007, the Veteran's bronchial asthma is rated at 60 percent, reflecting the need for intermittent systemic corticosteroids and FEV-1 of 75 percent predicted. The allergic rhinitis remains at its maximum schedular rating due to lack of exceptional factors such as frequent hospitalizations or marked interference with employment. The deviated septum does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation. Chronic headaches are not service-connected, but the claim for PTSD is reopened and new evidence submitted raises reasonable possibility of service connection.

The Veteran's headaches and vision impairment are related to his service-connected cervical spine disability, right leg disability, and left pelvic scar. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for headaches is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and proper VCAA notice.

The Veteran does not have a chronic headache disability attributable to military service and the claim is denied.

The Board denied service connection for chronic headaches and gout, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims. The Veteran's current conditions are not linked to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence of a disability manifested by numbness of the toes, or evidence of a nexus between such a disability and service or a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for numbness of several toes secondary to traumatic cervical arthritis is denied.

The Veteran's request for a waiver of overpayment was denied because it was not made within the required 180-day period following notification.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches do not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, right ankle disabilities, left ankle disabilities, flat feet (claimed as fallen arch), hypertension, and headaches. The Veteran did not appeal these decisions to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.