Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records and determine whether his current disabilities are related to service, including periods of active duty after separation from active duty in June 1970.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disability, multiple shrapnel injuries with scars to the left arm, left leg, and left knee, and hepatitis. The veteran's headaches are found to be aggravated by his service-connected residuals of head injury. Multiple shrapnel injuries with scars were incurred during active duty. Hepatitis is presumed to have first manifested in service.

The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the veteran's migraine headaches, finding that his very frequent and incapacitating migraines meet the criteria for this maximum schedular rating.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete notification and development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The RO is instructed to ensure all required notifications are provided, obtain relevant medical records, schedule a VA ENT examination, and review the claims for service connection and increased rating.

The Board has denied all service connection claims except for the reopened claim for a psychiatric disability. The veteran's other claims were not granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of April 1, 2000, for his total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The RO assigned this effective date based on the veteran's last day of employment being March 31, 2000.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the receipt of new medical evidence after the issuance of the August 2003 Statement of the Case (SOC). The RO must review the entire record, including this new evidence, and issue an SSOC for readjudication.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current headache disorder, anxiety disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all service-connected as they are linked to his inservice head injury.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disability and a higher rating for headache residuals of a temporoparietal bone fracture was denied. The veteran is currently in receipt of the maximum disability rating assignable under the provisions of the rating schedule for headaches resulting from brain trauma.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to new evidence showing diagnoses of schizophrenia and depression. The claim for chronic headaches remains denied as there is no current diagnosis or link between any diagnosed condition and military service.

The Board found that the RO's initial grant of service connection for nicotine addiction and chronic bronchitis was clearly erroneous, and thus severed this service connection. The veteran does not have hypertension or heart disease related to military service or service-connected disability. He also does not have an acquired psychiatric disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, or dizziness that are related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and disability manifested by upper back pain, finding that these conditions were incurred during the veteran's active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the veteran's current skin disability and headaches, as well as his military service. The RO is instructed to obtain all relevant records from VA and non-VA health care providers, including those from Drs. Bishop and Murthy.

The veteran's migraines are rated at 30 percent, the maximum available under VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected migraine headaches do not warrant a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various manifestations of an undiagnosed illness were denied on the merits.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of June 21, 1993 for a 30 percent rating for post-concussive syndrome with post traumatic headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left hamstring injury and found that the veteran's current left hamstring impairment is likely due to his military service. The issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for migraine headaches remains pending, as further examination is needed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, headaches, and a low back condition must be remanded due to incomplete information provided by the veteran regarding his alleged stressors in service. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The VA determined that the veteran's residuals of head trauma, including mild dementia and headaches, warrant a 10 percent disability rating.