Migraines & headaches decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary and the case is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic otitis media of the left ear, depression secondary to left ear otitis media, headaches secondary to left ear otitis media, and loss of balance secondary to left ear otitis media have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's migraines have been rated at 50 percent since January 13, 2006. The Board found that the Veteran experienced frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at 50 percent since May 1, 2005. The issue of an increased rating for major depression is being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches and acquired psychiatric disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and migraines were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation in either case.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for posttraumatic syndrome with headaches was denied as he did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran also had his TDIU claim, which is related to service-connected disabilities, considered but it was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, right shoulder pain and right scapula condition, chest pain, bronchitis, influenza with headaches, low back disability, esophoria, nosebleed, and residuals of a foreign object in the eye. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's muscle contraction headaches were initially granted service connection and rated noncompensable prior to July 18, 2005. From July 18, 2005 onwards, he was awarded a rating of 30 percent for his condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Travel Board hearing and issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The appellant is currently service-connected for multiple disabilities, including chronic fatigue syndrome with fibromyalgia and PTSD. His combined disability evaluation is at least 70 percent disabling. The VA has determined that the appellant's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an increased evaluation and earlier effective date for service connection of headaches. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to inadequate examination reports. The issues are service connection for nephrolithiasis and an initial compensable rating for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's dizziness, status post labyrinthectomy, is rated at 30 percent since March 1, 1994. The Veteran's headaches are also rated at 30 percent since the same date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, neck disorder, upper back disorder, and lower back disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's current diagnoses and her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for nonspecific urethritis and added prostatitis and cystitis to the service-connected condition. The issue of a separate disability rating for headaches is now before the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not shown to be productive of a disability picture that precludes him from securing and following some form of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's current migraines were first manifested during her active service, and the Board finds that service connection for migraine headaches is warranted.

The Veteran's tension headaches have been rated as 10 percent disabling, effective March 1, 2007. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated those contemplated by a higher rating of 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, neck pain (claimed as arthritis of the cervical spine and rheumatoid arthritis), mid-back pain and HLA-B27 (also claimed as arthritis of the thoracic spine and rheumatoid arthritis), and ankylosing spondylitis (also claimed as arthritis of the lumbar spine) due to lack of new and material evidence.