The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support service connection for a balance disorder or ear disease, as these conditions did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter and are not related to any in-service disease or injury. The Veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for service connection.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service treatment records show only acute episodes of otitis externa and possible otitis media, which were resolved prior to service separation. No chronic ear or balance disorder was noted during service or within one year thereafter. Current complaints are attributed to age-related changes rather than in-service events.
- Claimed conditions
- balance disorder, ear disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2014
- Citation
- 1451279
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 1451279.
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 granted secondary service connection for balance disorder and remanded the claims for tinnitus and TBI rating. The Veteran's balance impairment is related to his TBI, cluster headaches, back disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the readjudication of claims for service connection for memory loss, damage to the inner ear, a balance disorder, and hearing loss disability as no new and relevant evidence was received.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including a lumbar spine disorder and various peripheral neuropathies, as the probative evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and balance disorder have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
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