Migraines & headaches decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes was granted, and he is now rated at 40 percent effective from March 26, 2008.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is rated at 30% due to more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and discharge. Tension headaches are not considered for separate rating as they have been considered in the criteria for sinusitis.

The Veteran's current migraine headaches are related to his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected migraine headaches is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.

The Veteran's migraine headache disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for headaches and impaired vision have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found no evidence of a visual disability due to disease or injury in service, and there is otherwise no credible evidence linking any current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's hypertension was denied as it is not shown to be related to his service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for inter-ocular migraines and entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease have been dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple conditions, including nausea, diarrhea, bleeding, increased susceptibility to infection, blood clots in legs, scars from infected scratches, pneumonia, high fever, rare virus, skin peeling off body, vomiting, growth on kidneys, boil on genitals, intestinal polyp, diverticulosis (claimed as irritation and small tear in intestine), pancreatitis (claimed as pancreas infection), headaches (claimed as pain on the side of his head), paroxysmal positional vertigo (claimed as inner ear problems with dizziness), memory loss and anxiety, coronary artery disease (claimed as heart attack), and pilonidal cyst were denied. The Veteran's only service-connected disability is malaria, rated noncompensably disabling.

The Veteran's claims were denied due to lack of new and material evidence for his service connection claims for right wrist, neck, low back, and left shoulder conditions. His headaches and left wrist condition were granted a 10% disability rating.

The Veteran's tension headaches were granted a compensable rating from July 1, 2004 to September 16, 2009. Since then, the appeal is denied for higher ratings. Service connection for a low back condition was reopened but not established.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for muscle tension headaches, migraines, benign fasciculations (manifested by muscle spasms and loss of muscle control), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to an undiagnosed illness. However, additional development is needed as these issues are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Chiari malformation with associated symptoms were aggravated by a head injury during service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder, sinusitis, and a headache disorder have been denied as the evidence does not show that his conditions meet or approximate the criteria for higher schedular ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to new evidence submitted, including a diagnosis of dementia and brain damage related to exposure to toxic substances in service. The Veteran's current condition is being evaluated further.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence indicating a causal relationship between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his military service, except for tinnitus. Therefore, service connection was denied for all other conditions.