Migraines & headaches decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records, including inpatient treatment records from Ft. Leonard Army hospital and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating have been denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, chest pain (also claimed as costochondritis), and tension headaches associated with seizure disorder.

The Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions that are attributable to her military service.

The Board denied service connection for migraines and dizziness/vertigo, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service or any incident therein.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder and torn medial meniscus, right knee, synovitis, chondrolysis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's statements regarding his in-service headaches are credible and finds that service connection for headache disorder is warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for high cholesterol, anxiety, obstructive sleep apnea, headaches (undiagnosed), joint pain in left ankle, joint pain in both elbows, joint pain in both wrists, joint pain in both feet, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability and headaches, including migraine, as well as her claim for an effective date before April 21, 2006, for a 10% rating for irritable bowel syndrome are REMANDED.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches were incurred in or aggravated by service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for atopic dermatitis was denied. The RO increased the disability rating from 10% to 30%, effective April 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA audiologist examination. The issues of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are inextricably intertwined with the adjudication of his tinnitus claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo or dizziness, and headaches are not service-connected as they were not incurred during active duty or due to a disease or injury of service origin. The VA examiner found that the current conditions do not have a direct link to his military service.

The Veteran's service records do not show any diagnosed conditions related to his claimed disabilities. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a right shoulder disability, left hand disability, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep disorder, or short-term memory loss that were incurred in or aggravated by his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability (including bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorder), and migraine headaches. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, effective August 26, 2004. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher evaluation of 50 percent for his migraines due to their very frequent and prolonged attacks.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30% rating for migraine headaches was granted, but the effective date cannot be earlier than July 28, 2006.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and lumbar spine disability, including considering whether there is a relationship to service or pre-existing conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for left temple headaches due to trauma, as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's headache disorder is found to have been incurred during his active military service.