The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is not related to service and was noted on pre-induction examination prior to service.,There is no evidence of a current left shoulder or right shoulder disability, arthritis of the upper extremities, or left knee disability at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim. The Veteran's current disabilities are not linked to service.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- left ear hearing loss, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, arthritis of the left upper extremity, arthritis of the right upper extremity, left knee disability, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis C, prostate cancer, skin disorder, seizure disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 30, 2019
- Citation
- 19158909
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19158909.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for further development and consideration of evidence not previously considered.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed as the benefit sought has been granted, making the case moot.
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