The Veteran's cluster headaches were not incurred in service and are not related to exposure to Agent Orange. The Board finds that the current headache disability is less likely than not caused by or related to his military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner determined that the Veteran’s current headache disability was more likely due to a pre-existing condition rather than being incurred during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Cluster Headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 30, 2013
- Citation
- 1331539
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1331539.
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: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and irritable bowel syndrome, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Other claims were either denied or remanded.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for GERD and a 50 percent evaluation for cluster headaches, but denied an increased rating for right foot plantar fasciitis. The Veteran was also granted a 10 percent evaluation for external hemorrhoids effective May 19, 2024.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected cluster headaches have been rated at 50 percent since March 14, 2011. The Board affirms this rating based on the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his ability to work.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected cluster headaches is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions. The Board will seek new medical opinions without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.
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