The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including hearing loss and tinnitus. The remaining issues are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that any claimed disabilities are related to military service or herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Chronic Disability Manifested by Rash, Sensitivity to Heat and Sun, and Altered Skin Color, Shortness of Breath, Fatigue, Dizziness and Being Overly Drowsy, Blurring and Burning of Eyes, Diarrhea and Abdominal Pain, High Blood Pressure, Erectile Dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 16, 2016
- Citation
- 1610566
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 1610566.
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: Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
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