The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, and pes planus. The Veteran's claims were based on in-service noise exposure.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not show a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to service.
The deciding factor: The Board found no evidence of a current disability for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection. The Veteran's lay statements were considered, but his claim was denied due to lack of medical evidence supporting the presence of a current disability.,For tinnitus, the Board noted that there is no evidence showing it manifested within one year after separation from service or with continuity of symptoms since service. The VA examiner concluded that the currently diagnosed tinnitus was not related to in-service noise exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, pes planus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19102885
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,020 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19102885.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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