Migraines & headaches decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide the Veteran with a VA examination for his PTSD, hearing loss, and headaches. The issue of TDIU remains in appellate status.

The Board finds that the Veteran's migraines warrant a 50 percent evaluation for the appeal period, which represents the maximum schedular evaluation for migraines.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher initial evaluations were denied. The Board found no evidence of a compensable disability rating for any of the conditions listed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his relocation and inability to attend the scheduled hearing. His claims for PTSD evaluation and migraine headaches will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including VA examinations to evaluate the severity of his service-connected post concussion syndrome and the relationship between his claimed syncope and memory loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and the need to obtain more information from the Veteran.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues on April 27, 2010.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, headaches, Achilles tendonitis of the right ankle, and Achilles tendonitis of the left ankle as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left eye disability is not related to his service, and thus denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining legible copies of MRI and discharge summary records, and requesting another medical opinion regarding the severity of his migraines.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's chronic headaches, which may be service-connected if they are characterized as 'other organic diseases of the nervous system'.

The Veteran's status-post viral meningitis claimed as headaches, nausea, and sweating is found to be related to his service in the Gulf War. The Veteran's fatigue is attributed to a known clinical diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, including as due to inservice head trauma, is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right groin strain was withdrawn.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for a headache disorder remains open on appeal, as the July 1988 rating decision denying such is not final.,Diabetes mellitus was incurred in active service and is service-connected.,Asthma was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,TMJ dysfunction was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,The right shoulder disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor may the incurrence of arthritis during such service be presumed.,Erectile dysfunction is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability (diabetes mellitus).,PTSD and major depressive disorder were incurred in active service and are service-connected.,Dry throat was not caused by active service, as there is no underlying diagnosed disorder residual to tonsillectomy.,A bilateral elbow disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,A rib joint disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,The torn right latissimus dorsi muscle was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,Arthritis of the hands was not incurred or aggravated by active service, and the incurrence or aggravation of arthritis during such service may not be presumed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and a back condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling of VA examinations and obtaining outstanding records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including ear disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral foot disorder, GERD, cramps in legs and feet, back disorder, headaches, arthritis of the hands, and skin infection of the feet are not supported by the evidence. The Board finds that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any period thereof.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, bilateral hand disorder (to include arthritis), and diabetes mellitus have all been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected recurrent headaches, post-traumatic, overlap with tension type headache is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen several service connection claims for various conditions, including obsessive compulsive depression, nasal deformity, positive tuberculosis test (claimed as pulmonary tuberculosis), costochondritis, headaches/vertigo, and abdominal pain. The disposition of these cases will be determined based on the outcome of the reopening process.

The Veteran's sleep disability and headaches are related to his active service, with the sleep disorder attributed to a psychiatric disability. The claims for these conditions have been granted.