The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of migraine headache was denied as the evidence did not show a valid claim prior to November 29, 2002.
The deciding factor: The claim was denied because there was no informal claim or VA treatment record or examination that would satisfy the requirements for an informal claim prior to the receipt of the Veteran's formal claim to reopen in November 2002.
- Claimed conditions
- migraine headache
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 14, 2009
- Citation
- 0938876
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0938876.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for the migraine headache disability rating, as it was already granted from August 31, 2007. The issues of increased ratings for PTSD and major depressive disorder with TBI are remanded due to a duty to assist error in not obtaining SSA records.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches due to conflicting evidence and need for further clarification.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee conditions, as well as migraine headaches, due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are related to active service or secondary to his lumbar spine condition. His migraine headaches are related to active service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headache disability is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.
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