The Veteran's service connection claims for an eye disability, a right ear hearing loss disability, and a respiratory disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have any current disabilities related to his claimed conditions, as there was no evidence of chronicity or superimposed disease/injury during service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's eye disorders are considered congenital defects and refractive errors, which do not warrant service connection under VA regulations. The right ear hearing loss disability is attributed to military noise exposure, but the average decibel levels did not meet the regulatory requirements for establishing a 'disability' at that time. The respiratory disorder was not manifest in or aggravated by service.
- Claimed conditions
- Eye disability, Right ear hearing loss disability, Respiratory disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 29, 2018
- Citation
- 18115196
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18115196.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability but denied service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability began during service and is therefore granted as service connection.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is related to hazardous noise exposure in service, while his right ear hearing loss disability was not aggravated during service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that there is not enough evidence to determine if the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was caused by his military service, and thus the case must be sent back for further examination.
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