The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was received to reopen the tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, right and left knee disability, left and right ankle disability, right and left wrist disability, and vertigo claims. However, hypertension and sleep apnea were not shown during or within one year after service and there is no competent medical opinion linking these conditions to service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service treatment records did not show any complaints, diagnosis, or treatment of the claimed disabilities. There was no evidence of in-service incurrence or a chronic disease manifestation within one year of discharge for hypertension and sleep apnea.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, right and left knee disability, left and right ankle disability, right and left wrist disability, vertigo
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 10, 2015
- Citation
- 1509836
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1509836.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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