Migraines & headaches decisions — 2009

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for migraine and muscle contraction headaches, as well as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a left eye injury, headaches, and scars, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board remands the claims for further development, as additional evidence and clarification are needed to properly adjudicate these issues.

The Board denied service connection for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) and headaches as secondary to TMJ, finding no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's claimed conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was reopened, but the claim for a disability manifested by nervousness, fatigue, loss of memory, concentration difficulties, and psychosis was denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and an earlier effective date for the 50 percent rating for headaches were denied, as there was no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder and it was factually ascertainable that his headaches produced symptoms consistent with those required for a 50 percent rating from November 16, 1980.

The case was remanded for further development and to ensure compliance with the Joint Motion and Court Order dated in September 2006.

The Board denied service connection for status post vocal cord excision, right true vocal cord paralysis, and dysphonia plica, hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, and loss of vision as there was no evidence of a nexus or relationship to service or exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and recurrent headaches, as well as an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD, hypertension, migraines, a heart disorder, asthma, defective vision, or a bilateral lung disorder related to service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence related to the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine and dizziness.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for headaches, and the Board denied an increased rating for vasomotor rhinitis with postoperative deviated septum as a 30 percent evaluation was already in place.

The veteran's service-connected post-traumatic headaches were granted a maximum 50 percent disability rating, effective November 29, 2005.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, while severe, do not require regular aid and attendance or render him housebound.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection claims related to bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, essential hypertension with coronary stenosis, neuropathy, left ankle arthritis, right ankle arthritis, left wrist arthritis, left foot arthritis, right foot arthritis, arthritis of the back, left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, headaches, and loss of part of the stomach and large intestines.

The Board restored the veteran's 20 percent rating for numbness of the left (minor) arm secondary to degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, and denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent. The Board also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence.

The veteran is entitled to service connection for a right shoulder disability on the basis of in-service aggravation and an undiagnosed multi-symptom illness manifested by blurry vision, headaches, joint pain, fatigue, memory loss, and personality changes.

The veteran is entitled to special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, a foot fungus disorder, and a back disorder. The veteran's migraine headache disorder was rated as follows: 10% prior to April 2, 2004; 30% from April 2, 2004 to June 22, 2005; 50% from June 23, 2005 to May 9, 2007; and greater than 50% beginning May 10, 2007.