Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's numbness of the hands and feet is not service-connected, but his residuals of a head injury (other than headaches) are currently evaluated at 50 percent since January 16, 1997.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 50 percent for the veteran's chronic brain syndrome with headaches, effective from April 2000. The claim to reopen a service connection for residuals of injury to the eyes was also granted.

The Board has denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder due to the lack of a current diagnosis. The veteran's claims for gastrointestinal disability, migraine headaches, and enlargement of glands in the groin region are remanded for additional development.

The veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple issues was denied. The appeals were based on secondary service connection theories, but no specific exposure basis or PACT Act involvement was noted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected headaches and for service connection for voluntary ptosis of the eyes. The veteran was granted service connection for headaches, but with a 10 percent evaluation effective from May 1991.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD, residuals of a head injury, or chronic headache and left-sided facial numbness related to his period of active duty service.

The Board has found that the veteran's headache disorder is related to his service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 8, 1998 for a 30 percent rating for service-connected migraine headaches is granted. The effective date will be set at July 18, 1994, based on the fact that his disability had been manifest by daily episodes of headaches since then.

The veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of a low back disorder and for increased evaluations for PTSD, post-traumatic migraine headaches, tinnitus, residuals of a left knee injury with post-traumatic arthritis, status post excision of fibromatosis with residual scar, and mid-occipital scalp scar. The RO confirmed noncompensable ratings for hearing loss and scar, residual of a left temple gunshot wound.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed speech disorder, bilateral heel spurs, and headache disorder were not incurred or aggravated during his period of active service. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, adjustment disorder with anxious features, and post traumatic headaches are all rated at the minimum compensable level of 10 percent. The RO has granted these evaluations effective from October 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected psychoneurosis with anxiety and headaches, finding that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a left foot and/or ankle disorder, low back disorder, skin disorders of the feet, bronchitis, and sinusitis. The veteran's pre-service fracture was not considered to have increased in severity during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran currently has right knee and right ankle strain, which were incurred in service. The claim for left ankle strain is remanded. Post-traumatic headaches are also granted. Service connection for lumbosacral strain was not established.

The veteran's service-connected headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100. The RO has granted a separate noncompensable rating for his hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) effective from November 2, 1998.

The veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are productive of characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month over the last several months, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The veteran's claim for non-service-connected pension benefits was granted effective November 25, 2001. The RO also granted service connection for migraine headaches with an effective date of February 7, 2001.

The Board found that the veteran's headaches are not related to his service-connected fracture of the nose and denied his claim for service connection. His increased rating claim for low back syndrome is pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, headaches, sinus disorder, high blood pressure, bilateral foot disorder, left toe fracture, or skin disorder of the hands and feet.