The Board found that the Veteran's current ear disabilities are not causally or etiologically related to service and denied his claim for service connection.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the most likely etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss was a combination of genetic and environmental factors not related to military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Ear Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 23, 2011
- Citation
- 1119980
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 1119980.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an ear disability and increased rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of a current ear disability or one related to active duty, and his bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an ear disability and hearing loss, as well as a heart disability. The issues are now remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist disability, ear disability, sinusitis, carpal tunnel on the left side, carpal tunnel on the right side, and acquired psychiatric disorder. Service connection is granted for all conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found no current diagnosed right knee or right elbow disability and denied service connection for these conditions. For the ear disability, the Board determined that the Veteran's current symptoms were not related to his military service.
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