Migraines & headaches decisions — 2011

The Veteran's schizophrenia is presumed to have been incurred in service and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including those related to his Gulf War service and undiagnosed illnesses, are granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or an in-service injury that could be linked to the claimed conditions. The Board also noted that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of eczema due to herbicide exposure, and his headaches were found to be related to PTSD.

The Veteran is seeking TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board has referred the claim to the RO for development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, finding it related to herbicide exposure in service. The Veteran's claims for other conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in the service records and the need to verify the Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a grant of service connection for left ear hearing loss, and the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss disability was not shown during service or within one year after separation. The VA examinations did not find a causal relationship between his current left ear hearing loss and military service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were consistent with characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once per month during the period from April 10, 2000 through March 1, 2006.,VA examinations conducted outside the rating period at issue did not provide sufficient information to assess the severity of the Veteran's migraine headaches for this time frame.

The Board found that there is equally probative medical and lay evidence for and against the Veteran's claims, thus resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor. The Board concluded that his migraines and vertigo are due to injuries incurred in service.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including pain of the knees, ankles, feet, hands (including fingers), chronic fatigue, upper respiratory symptoms, and headaches, are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing their onset during active duty or being attributable to a known clinical diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic headaches was denied. The July 2000 rating decision denying the hyperopia, extropia, and amblyopia of the eyes claims is final.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of left wrist disability and service connection for headaches and stomach disorder were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10% rating for painful left wrist status post ganglionectomy, but the Board found no basis to grant higher ratings or reopen his stomach disorder claim.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during service and have persisted since. Obesity was not found to be related to service. Other conditions were also found to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining neuropsychological testing records and requesting an opinion from a VA psychiatrist regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric condition. The decision is pending further review.

The Veteran's service connection claims for pes planus and headaches were denied, but her claim for a left ankle disorder was granted. The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting pes planus did not worsen during service, and there is no current evidence of chronic headaches. However, she has been diagnosed with a left ankle disorder presumed related to active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders, sleep disorder, headaches, breathing problems (asthma), bilateral shoulder disabilities, ankle disabilities, and knee disabilities, all of which were claimed as due to Persian Gulf War undiagnosed illness. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability, chronic headaches, and bilateral shoulder disability are related to his military service. The appeal is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records from 2003, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for headaches based on clear and unmistakable error in a 1997 rating decision is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cerebral concussion with headaches and migraine headaches due to cerebral concussion were denied as the residuals of a cerebral concussion did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.