Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. 1151 for headaches, blurred vision, a liver disorder, and empty sella syndrome, claimed as results of Prolixin injections administered by VA, was denied due to lack of evidence showing that the conditions were caused by VA treatment.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed disabilities, including blurred vision, dizziness, fainting spells, sinus condition, migraine headaches, and disc degeneration, as they are not shown to be related to his active duty or radium treatment in service.

The Board has granted service connection for dysthymia as secondary to service-connected Meniere's syndrome, but denied service connection for headaches.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current manifestations of his service-connected neurotic skeletal disorder are very frequent migraine headaches, which are completely prostrating in nature and recurrent to a degree that they are productive of severe economic inadaptability. Therefore, an increased rating to 50 percent for the veteran's neurotic skeletal disorder is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a headache disability, finding that the evidence received since the December 1994 rating decision was not new and material.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, low back disorder, and head injury with headaches have been denied due to lack of verifiable in-service stressors and failure to respond to requests for additional information.

The Board has determined that the veteran's gastrointestinal disability, claimed as gastritis, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. However, a headache disorder was incurred in service and granted service connection.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability evaluation for low back pain with small disc protrusion at L5-S1 and a noncompensable disability evaluation for migraine headaches.

The Board has determined that the veteran's headaches, which are secondary to his service-connected fractured mandible, meet the criteria for a 50 percent evaluation. This is based on very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks of migraines.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected conditions have been granted, with the highest possible evaluation (50%) assigned for chronic head injury syndrome and depression. Other conditions remain at their current ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, gastrointestinal disorder (including ulcer), skin disorder, and headaches claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to lack of evidence showing their onset or etiology during or within one year after service.

The VA denied the claim that the veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death by intracerebral hemorrhage.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the veteran's migraine headaches, finding that his symptoms meet the criteria for such a rating due to very frequent and prolonged attacks with severe economic inadaptibility.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including respiratory, neurological, and psychiatric disabilities, are denied as there is no direct evidence of these conditions in service or a link to Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's muscle tension headaches are rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is not sufficient to meet his claim for a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and migraine headaches do not warrant increased ratings as they are currently evaluated.

The appellant withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the appellant's claims being well grounded, requiring VA to search for and obtain service medical records from various sources. The case is now remanded for further action.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of September 19, 1996 for a 10 percent evaluation of the left knee disability and found that new and material evidence supports reopening the claims for service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder including depression.

The veteran's service-connected headaches are recurrent but not prostrating, and the Board has determined that a higher evaluation is not warranted.