Migraines & headaches decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (healed right occipital scar, rated 0 percent, right inguinal herniorrhaphy, rated 0 percent, headaches, rated 30 percent, and generalized anxiety disorder, rated 50 percent) are not shown to be of such nature and severity as to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for ulcer disease and higher ratings for retropatellar pain syndrome of both knees, irritable bowel syndrome with cholecystectomy, hiatal hernia, and a history of gastritis, left hallux valgus with flexion deformities, right hallux valgus, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic lumbosacral strain was granted, while the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and other conditions were denied.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, headaches, and a nervous disorder as the conditions were not shown to be related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety disorder, and freezing up of motor skills), muscle spasms, and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's residuals of a tempoparietal bone fracture with headaches did not present such an exceptional or unusual disability picture as to render impractical the application of the regular Rating Schedule standards.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD, a cervical spine disability, a lower extremity disability, a skin disability, a sinus disability, headaches, heart disease, fibromyalgia, and a dental disability as there is no competent medical evidence showing that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are causally related to his active duty service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied higher ratings for the cervical spine, post-traumatic headaches, and deviated nasal septum. The Veteran's visual acuity in his left eye was 20/400, and he is legally blind in that eye; however, a remand is necessary to determine the severity of the nonservice-connected right eye.

The Veteran's lumbar disc disease was rated at 20 percent from June 12, 2002, but no higher ratings were granted for the other conditions.

The appeal is remanded for further development of the evidence, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying alleged in-service stressors.

The appeal was partially granted, as the Veteran's migraine headaches were found to be service-connected, but his claims for a dysthymic disorder and diabetes mellitus were denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and residuals of a head injury, but denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, bilateral wrist disability, and left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, hypertension, a bilateral knee disability, and substance abuse with residual migraine headaches as there was no credible evidence of an in-service stressor or chronic condition, and the claims were not supported by competent medical evidence linking any of these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, stomach disorder, headache disability, joint disorder, muscle disorder, blood in the colon, hypertension, leg cramps, shortness of breath, memory loss, fatigue, sleeping problems, blurred vision, and depression. The claimant was also denied new and material evidence to reopen claims related to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and a low back disability, including Scheuermann's disease, as the conditions were not shown to be related to the Veteran's military service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of an in-service head injury, including headaches and memory loss, as well as a vision disability, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disability of the right arm and face, headaches, and right leg numbness as these conditions were attributed to known clinical diagnoses and not due to an undiagnosed illness resulting from service in the Persian Gulf.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and adjudication of the Veteran's claims.