Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected sinusitis with headaches is currently rated at 10 percent and does not warrant an increase.

The veteran's exertional headaches are rated at 30 percent effective September 29, 1996. His low back strain is rated at 20 percent effective September 29, 1996.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches with history of concussion are granted. The claim for chronic swelling of the ankles is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tension type headaches meet the criteria for a maximum schedular evaluation of 50 percent, which is assigned when there are very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The veteran's service-connected posttraumatic headache disorder and tension headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, effective September 2, 1992.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches as there was no competent evidence relating the condition to service.

The Board denied service connection for a speech impediment and a chronic headache disorder, finding that the veteran's conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims are well-grounded for chronic fatigue, memory loss, and a psychiatric disability. However, service connection is denied for gastrointestinal and respiratory disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied reopening of the claim for service connection for headaches and a rating in excess of 10 percent for postoperative right scrotal scar due to lack of new and material evidence. The veteran's argument that the decision was based on an incorrect test (Hodge v. West) is not valid as Hodge was decided after the Board's decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection on multiple issues, finding that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection in any of these areas.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for blindness in his left eye and headaches, as well as a total rating due to unemployability caused by service-connected disability. The evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a disorder associated with right eye pain or headaches due to VA surgical treatment in June 1990, and for glaucoma due to VA treatment are not well grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations, finding that his service-connected conditions did not warrant higher ratings based on current symptomatology.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by his own willful misconduct and he had a service-connected disability (migraine headaches) rated as 30 percent disabling. However, due to lack of evidence linking the cause of death to service-connected condition or showing continuous total disability rating for 10 years prior to death, the claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and right knee injury with arthroscopic repair, both rated at 10 percent. The veteran's headaches are productive of chronic daily pain requiring medication for relief, while his right knee disability is manifested by patellofemoral pain syndrome with mild degenerative changes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for post traumatic headaches, residuals of a left (minor) little finger fracture, and residuals of laparotomy with liver laceration. The appeals were based on service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to insufficient development of evidence, particularly regarding his headaches and their treatment at the Emergency Room. The veteran is requested to provide more details about these treatments.

The Board has denied reopening claims for service connection for various conditions, including back disability, dizziness, and eye disabilities. The evidence received since the 1976 decisions is not considered new and material to reopen these claims.

The Board has determined that the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is well grounded. The veteran's stressors during his Gulf War service are supported by evidence, and a VA examination will be arranged to determine if he meets the criteria for PTSD.

The Board has reopened the claim of secondary service connection for a low back disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since March 1982.,The claim is considered well-grounded as it relates the cause of the current low back disability to the veteran's service-connected migraine headache disorder.