The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence that the condition was incurred in or aggravated by his active military service. The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral recurrent tinnitus is more likely due to environmental and genetic factors rather than noise exposure during service. For the headache disability, secondary to residuals of resection of left eye muscle for esotropia, the claim will be remanded as the RO has not issued a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding this issue.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's tinnitus was not shown to have been incurred in service and there is no medical evidence linking his current bilateral recurrent tinnitus to any noise exposure during service. The Board found that the Veteran's history of tinnitus began more than 40 years after service, which weighs against a finding of service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral tinnitus, headache disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 29, 2010
- Citation
- 1037035
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 1037035.
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 Veteran's claims regarding entitlement to service connection for a headache disability and entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to May 29, 2014, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for right tibiofibular ligament strain are being remanded due to the need for additional development.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to new evidence and development needs. The maximum disability rating for tinnitus has already been assigned.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left toe amputation, triple bypass surgery, blockage in legs, and bilateral tinnitus due to procedural errors and the need for additional medical opinions regarding potential exposure to toxins during service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection and rating of left lower extremity radiculopathy, headache disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to an error in notifying the Veteran of her right to a pre-decisional hearing.
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