The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a current left hip disability, and any preexisting condition was not aggravated by service-connected lumbar spine disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's left hip disability was less likely than not incurred in or caused by service, or proximately due to or the result of his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran did not have a current right hip disability and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness at entry into service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss Disability, Left Hip Disability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 14, 2016
- Citation
- 1635986
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 1635986.
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 has denied service connection for the claimed conditions as there is no persuasive evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence or aggravation.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for both a right hip disability and a left hip disability, finding that the Veteran's observable symptoms of pain and stiffness began during his active service and have persisted.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is granted a 70% rating. The left hip disability claim is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding causation and aggravation.
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