The Veteran's low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and type II diabetes mellitus were not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board found no evidence of continuity of symptomatology for any condition.,While the Veteran reported having hearing difficulties, there is no audiometric evidence showing that he had a bilateral hearing loss disability considered a VA disability for which service connection could be granted.,The Veteran's tinnitus was not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board found no evidence of continuity of symptomatology for this condition.,Hypertension was not shown as chronic in service, and there is no clinical evidence suggesting that it manifested to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found no evidence of continuity of symptomatology for hypertension.,Type II diabetes mellitus was not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board found no evidence of continuity of symptomatology for this condition.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any of the Veteran's conditions were incurred during active service, are otherwise related to an injury or disease in service, or have manifested since service.,There is no audiometric evidence showing that the Veteran had bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes. The Board found no evidence of continuity of symptomatology for this condition.,The August 2018 VA examiner opined that tinnitus was not at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event or disease and instead related to non-service-connected bilateral hearing loss.,There is no clinical evidence showing hypertension manifested within the applicable presumptive period. The Board found no evidence of continuity of symptomatology for this condition.,The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that type II diabetes mellitus was incurred during active service or otherwise related to an injury or disease in service.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back disability, Bilateral hearing loss disability, Tinnitus, Hypertension, Type II diabetes mellitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19157146
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 19157146.
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: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
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