Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The effective date of the rating decision was not addressed.

The veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the existence of current disabilities associated with his abdomen, left eye, and extremities, as well as their relationship to VA treatment in April and July 1984.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unemployable on an ascertainable date prior to September 12, 1997 and denied the claim for an earlier effective date.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for headaches, finding that the veteran's migrainous headaches do not occur very frequently and do not result in severe economic or non-economic inadaptability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, major affective disorder, depression and/or bipolar disorder, disability of the large and small intestine and/or stomach, undiagnosed illness manifested by urinary frequency and incontinence, and undiagnosed illness manifested by cold flashes. The RO also confirmed the denial of service connection for asthma.

The Board found that there was material improvement in the veteran's service-connected psychoneurotic disorder, specifically while she was employed full-time. As a result, the reduction from a 50 percent evaluation to a 30 percent evaluation for her depressive disorder with tension headaches is denied.

The veteran's PTSD claim was initially granted, but the issue of service connection for headaches remains pending. The rating assigned is 30 percent.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including low back strain, hypertension, and residuals of a stroke with dysarthria, are found to be so severe that they prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current chronic recurrent subacromial bursitis of the right shoulder with headaches is attributable to service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's cervical spinal stenosis, status post C3-4 fusion, is rated at 40 percent since September 22, 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a head injury, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was deferred pending further examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, right wrist pain, and nerve disease as not well grounded. The claim for an increased rating for depression was also denied.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's migraine headaches, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The veteran's headaches are rated at a 30 percent evaluation, the highest available for this condition.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent effective October 27, 1999. The veteran's residuals of head trauma with associated headaches are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling and a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining the veteran's service medical records and ensuring compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000. The claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, and nightmares are being remanded to the RO.

The veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service exposure, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The other issues remain unresolved.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for schizophrenia, Bell's palsy, and status post head trauma from motor vehicle accident due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has granted service connection for frostbite of the ears and feet, hearing loss, and headaches. The veteran's PTSD is also service-connected.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of new and material evidence, with the exception of his claim for PTSD which was granted.