Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, tinnitus, dizziness, confusion, and headaches. The issue regarding PTSD was also addressed but not related to service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, Residuals of Right Knee Injury, and Migraine Headaches have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection based on the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to his service or a presumptive condition, and the claim for separate ratings for tinnitus was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosed disability of any claimed conditions, and thus service connection cannot be granted for these issues.

The case is being remanded for additional development of the veteran's service records and treatment records from VA facilities. The issues of service connection for a low back disorder and reopening of a claim for chronic headache will be addressed after this additional development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a hemorrhage of the right eye, traumatic cataract of the left eye, undifferentiated somatoform disorder with headaches (previously characterized as conversion reaction), and right maxillary sinusitis with foreign body in the floor of the right nasal cavity are denied. The claim for increased rating for pharyngitis, residual of submucous resection is also denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current diagnosis of migraine is related to her in-service diagnosis and therefore service connection for migraine headaches is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's current headache disorder is not service-connected, and his back disorder was also not service-connected.,There were no findings of a head or back injury during service.

The veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are granted a 30 percent disability rating prior to July 18, 2001 and from July 18, 2001 to January 28, 2003.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, cardiac complications, severe allergic reaction, burning feet, myositis, headaches, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and diarrhea are denied as they do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under the Persian Gulf War presumption. Direct service connection is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder, as there was no verified stressor or supporting clinical evidence. The veteran's claims of other conditions are not addressed in this decision.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and migraines, significantly impair her ability to work. The Board finds that she is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to these conditions.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for lumbar strain effective April 29, 2005. The veteran's right hip strain and knee instability are rated at the maximum available under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic headache disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current headaches are related to his in-service head injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's appeal is remanded to determine the current severity of her service-connected migraine headaches, as the currently assigned rating does not reflect the frequency and duration of her symptoms.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for headaches and epilepsy have been denied as there is no evidence of at least one major seizure in the last two years or at least two minor seizures in the last six months, which are required for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for any of the claimed disabilities, including residuals of a head injury other than psychiatric disability and migraine headaches, residuals of a right leg injury, and residuals of a right knee injury.