The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss disability, bilateral ankle disorder, and persistent diarrhea are not well grounded. The evidence does not establish a current disability in any of these conditions as defined by VA regulations.
The deciding factor: The appellant did not meet the criteria for a 'hearing loss disability' under VA regulations (38 C.F.R. § 3.385) and there is no indication that he had such a condition within one year after separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- Left ear hearing loss disability, Bilateral ankle disorder, Persistent diarrhea (irritable bowel syndrome)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 17, 2000
- Citation
- 0018741
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 0018741.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability but denied service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability, finding that it is due to in-service hazardous noise exposure.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is related to hazardous noise exposure in service, while his right ear hearing loss disability was not aggravated during service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for right and left ear hearing loss disabilities and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service or any in-service noise exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of onset during service or within one year post-separation.
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