Migraines & headaches decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of her claims, including service connection for chronic headaches and an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current headaches are related to his in-service head injury, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board previously denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a brain injury, including headaches and blackouts in March 2000. The current decision denies the reopening of this claim.

The Board determined that the Veteran's hypertension, headaches, and psychiatric disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not show a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are found to be incurred in service, while his insomnia is not a separate compensable disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a psychosis or sensorineural hearing loss within one year post-service, and the Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability or headaches.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding his claim for PTSD. The claims of service connection for facial scars, headaches, and dental disability (claimed as residuals of a fractured jaw) have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's seizure disorder was rated at 40 percent prior to February 1, 2005 and at 20 percent beginning February 1, 2005. The Veteran's headaches were initially rated at 10 percent and are now rated at 30 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, macular degeneration, vertigo, and headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for migraine headaches and posttraumatic bony deformity of the right third finger were denied as there was no evidence showing severe economic inadaptability or ankylosis, respectively.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, left ear hearing loss, a respiratory disorder due to asbestos exposure, migraine headaches, visual disability, and back disability. The reasons given were that there was no credible evidence of in-service stressors for PTSD, no current diagnoses related to service for other conditions, and the Veteran's accounts of events during service were not credible.

The Board found that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current headache disability is related to his head injury in service. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence and opinion.

The Veteran seeks service connection for neck, nerve, and headache disorders. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions in service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's reported symptoms are not credible and there is no medical evidence supporting his claims. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that residuals of a head injury, to include memory loss, headaches, vision problems, loss of balance, and stress are etiologically related to active military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for headaches before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU benefits is denied as there was no claim filed prior to July 25, 2006. The evidence does not show that the Veteran was unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to March 21, 2006.

The Board denied service connection for a right ear hearing loss disorder and other issues related to the Veteran's left ear hearing loss, left knee degenerative joint disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).