The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral pes planus, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability have all been denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.,Service connection was presumed due to exposure during service, but clear and unmistakable evidence showed that the disabilities existed prior to service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service treatment records did not show any complaints or diagnoses related to his current conditions. The Board found no evidence of acoustic trauma for hearing loss and insufficient evidence linking tinnitus to service. For the other conditions, there was clear and unmistakable evidence that they preexisted service.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Bilateral Hearing Loss"}, {"condition_name":"Tinnitus"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Pes Planus"}, {"condition_name":"Left Ankle Disability"}, {"condition_name":"Right Ankle Disability"}
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 1, 2019
- Citation
- 19175423
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's left eye condition is related to service, as it found that the condition did not preexist service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for prostate cancer, related to in-service exposures at Camp Lejeune.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted an effective date of August 10, 2022, for the grant of service connection for sinusitis based on the PACT Act.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the conditions are related to in-service herbicide agent exposure.
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