The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and psychiatric disability, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for high blood pressure as secondary to a psychiatric disability is deferred pending resolution of the psychiatric claim.
The deciding factor: The VA audiologist found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability was less likely than not related to his military service due to normal hearing at enlistment, separation, and in 1972. The VA psychiatrist did not find any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders under DSM-IV criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- left ear hearing loss disability, psychiatric disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 17, 2016
- Citation
- 1624517
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 1624517.
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 the appellant's eligibility for direct payment of fees from past due benefits awarded in November 2024, as the decision was an initial decision on a new claim seeking increased rating for the Veteran's psychiatric disability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability, hand warts, and psychiatric disability due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's reports regarding the etiology of these conditions.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating and earlier effective date for his psychiatric disability was denied. The appeal of the proposed reduction in hypertension rating is dismissed as not being an adjudicative determination.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of VA examination regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability, which may be related to his active duty service.
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