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Whole decision: Denied

The Board denied service connection for a headache disability, including tension and migraine headaches, as well as secondary service connection due to the Veteran's service-connected dysthymic disorder and chronic pain disorder. The evidence did not support a link between in-service headaches and current diagnoses.

The deciding factor: There was no medical evidence linking current tension headaches to in-service symptoms or conditions.

Claimed conditions
headache (tension and migraine)
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating
Not verified here — check the original decision
Decision date
July 28, 2020
Citation
20050034

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 20050034.

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.

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