Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The veteran's bilateral ocular histoplasmosis with macular scarring and decreased right eye vision is currently rated at 30 percent, while his migraine headaches are also rated at 30 percent. The veteran's conditions were found to be service-connected based on direct evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and polycystic kidney disease, both found to be related to the veteran's hypertension.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any current disability related to a jaw injury incurred in service, and there is insufficient evidence of a head injury or its residuals. The claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury is denied.

The veteran's service-connected headache disorder is currently rated at 10 percent from November 1, 1990 to January 31, 2001. A rating in excess of 10 percent for the condition is denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The veteran also seeks a permanent and total rating for non-service-connected disability pension purposes, but the case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine if he meets the criteria.

The veteran's PTSD was granted service connection effective March 11, 2002.,A rating of 30 percent for PTSD is assigned from March 11, 2002.

The veteran's headaches are currently rated as 10%, and his cervical spine disability is rated at 10%. The lumbosacral strain with diffuse degenerative changes has been increased to 40% since May 4, 1998. However, the headaches have not met criteria for a higher rating prior to September 23, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches and service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral spine condition and migraine headaches, finding that the current evaluations of 20 percent were appropriate based on the severity of his symptoms and functional impairment.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The case is being returned to the RO due to incomplete service medical records and missing treatment records. The veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, and a psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered after obtaining these records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for compensable ratings for his service-connected sclerosis of the hips, bilateral defective hearing, and residuals of a head injury with headaches.

The veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, defective hearing, hypertension, and PTSD have been denied. Service connection has been established for diabetes mellitus (Type II).

The Board has remanded the case due to new legal requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are pending.

The Board has granted higher initial evaluations for migraine headaches (10% prior to June 10, 1996; 30% as of that date) and spondylosis of the lumbar spine with disc bulging at L4-5 and L5-S1 (20%), but denied hypertension.

The veteran's left carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral subcutaneous mastectomies (partly due to service-connected fibrocystic breast disease), tinnitus, migraine headaches, hypertension, and irritable bowel syndrome are all granted. The residuals of her left foot bunionectomy and ostectomy with bilateral hallux valgus are also granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the veteran failed to submit a timely Substantive Appeal for the July 1998 rating decision, which granted a 10 percent evaluation for service-connected headaches as secondary to head trauma and denied service connection for hypertension.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy as secondary to Agent Orange exposure, and headaches as secondary to PTSD. The appeals regarding the initial ratings for fractures of the right hand were also denied.

The VA has assigned a 10 percent disability evaluation for the appellant's service-connected residuals of head trauma, including headache disorder. This is based on the appellant's reported symptoms and lack of neurological findings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's prostatic hypertrophy was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service. However, the veteran suffers from chronic headaches which have been presumed to be due to an undiagnosed illness during his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations.