The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory illness (to include as due to asbestos exposure), and sterility (to include as due to microwave radiation exposure). The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a medical nexus between any claimed conditions and service.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence linking the Veteran's current respiratory illness, sterility, or hearing loss/tinnitus to his military service, including potential asbestos or microwave radiation exposures. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a grant of service connection for any of these conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- respiratory illness, sterility
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 20, 2011
- Citation
- 1102252
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 1102252.
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 Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed sterility, specifically related to his service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder. The case will be returned for further development and consideration.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for sterility was withdrawn by the Veteran's representative and is therefore dismissed.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for sterility, to include as secondary to service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder for another VA examination.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for a respiratory illness and fatigue, both considered undiagnosed illnesses related to the Veteran's Persian Gulf War service. Sleep apnea was remanded for further consideration.
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