The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, or bilateral pes planus. The claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability in these conditions at any time during the appeal period.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms did not meet the threshold requirement of having competent evidence (a medical diagnosis) of a current disability, as required by 38 C.F.R. § 3.385 for hearing loss and as established in McClain v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 319 (2007), for erectile dysfunction and bilateral pes planus.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, bilateral pes planus, tinnitus, skin disability manifested by bumps and/or spots on the bottom of the feet, skin disability manifested by eczema and/or dermatitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 6, 2015
- Citation
- 1505730
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 1505730.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- 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.
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