The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, chronic tinnitus, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, chronic nephritis, endocarditis, brain thrombosis, and cardiovascular disease were all denied as the evidence did not show that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service treatment records are unavailable. The earliest clinical indications of the presence of any of the disabilities at issue is revealed by private medical records dated in March 2006, almost 44 years following the Veteran's discharge from service. There exists no evidence that arteriosclerosis or coronary artery disease were present during active service or are related to an injury or disease of service origin.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, chronic tinnitus, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, chronic nephritis, endocarditis, brain thrombosis, cardiovascular disease (to include coronary artery disease)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 26, 2009
- Citation
- 0940619
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 0940619.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
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