The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes at any time during the pendency of his appeal. The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence fails to establish that the Veteran had a hearing loss disability for VA purposes at any time during the pendency of the appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- {"conditionName":"bilateral hearing loss"}, {"conditionName":"bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus, plantar fasciitis, and hammertoes (feet problems)"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 12, 2016
- Citation
- 1601096
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 1601096.
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 Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection, but his Tietze’s syndrome and left knee disability are denied. The case is remanded for further development regarding the left knee disability.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal of kidney cancer service connection was dismissed due to withdrawal. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were found to be incurred as a result of service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is linked to noise exposure during active service, while left ear hearing loss is not established. The Veteran's PTSD causes occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were found to be caused by in-service exposure to excessive noise. Service connection was granted for these conditions.
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