Migraines & headaches decisions — 2010

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, to include headaches and tinnitus. The Veteran's current conditions are attributed to his personality disorder rather than any residual effects from an in-service head injury.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders, migraine headaches, bilateral ankle disorders, bilateral shoulder disorders, a heart disorder, and a skin rash affecting the face, neck, and groin area are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent from June 1, 2006 to November 5, 2008 and 50 percent thereafter. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher initial evaluation for this condition.

The Veteran's headaches and cognitive dysfunction are shown by competent medical evidence to be causally related to the head injury he suffered in service, thus meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, as there is no evidence of hearing loss, headaches, or a bilateral leg condition during service or within one year thereafter. The Veteran's complaints are not supported by medical evidence and the passage of many years since separation from active duty further weighs against his claims.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran experienced additional disability due to a December 2002 VA cervical spine tumor resection surgery, and whether informed consent was obtained in compliance with regulations.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed PTSD, depression, and headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service. The appeal was denied as there is no credible supporting evidence to corroborate his report of in-service stressors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, right median nerve paralysis (carpal tunnel syndrome), and tendonitis and separation of the right shoulder as secondary to a prior work injury in 1988. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's service treatment records do not show a chronic headache disorder during his active duty. The Board finds that the Veteran has not provided credible evidence to establish continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran experiences prostrating headache attacks two to three times per week.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action on his claim of an increased disability evaluation for post-traumatic pain syndrome and headaches, as well as the reopening of his service connection claims.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the inadequate opinion provided by the April 2003 VA examiner regarding the cause of the Veteran's headaches. The Veteran should be scheduled for a VA examination to determine whether his headaches, claimed as residuals of a head injury, were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50% under the schedular criteria, and an extraschedular rating is denied as his disability picture is adequately contemplated by the current evaluation.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred. The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right knee disorders are denied. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link between any diagnosed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of a denial on the merits for bilateral hearing loss. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the other claims.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches are now rated at 50 percent effective March 26, 2008. Prior to that date, the rating was 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to the appellant's failure to report for a VA examination, and now requests another examination at a different facility.

The Board has granted service connection for a left testicular cyst and headaches, but denied the remaining claims for service connection. The Veteran's initial noncompensable disability ratings for prostatism with bladder outlet obstruction and epididymitis and bilateral pes planus with bilateral heel spurs have been maintained.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for headaches with dizziness and fainting spells due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The Veteran's current condition is found to be related to her military service.