The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not caused or aggravated by service exposure to aircraft engine noise, as evidenced by normal audiometric results during service and no significant threshold shifts.,His gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as stomach, reflux, and ulcer disorder), to include GERD and duodenal ulcer, did not manifest within one year after discharge from service. The Veteran's current symptoms are more consistent with post-service occupational exposures rather than a continuity of symptomatology since service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hearing loss was first noted many years after service and is not shown to be related to noise exposure during service, as evidenced by normal audiometric results at the time of discharge from service. The current threshold shifts are attributed to measurement error rather than a chronic condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Gastrointestinal Disorder (claimed as stomach, reflux, and ulcer disorder), to include GERD and duodenal ulcer., Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine and Residuals of Lumbar Spine Surgery
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 31, 2015
- Citation
- 1537064
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 1537064.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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