The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for loss of balance, finding that it is not etiologically related to service and was not caused or aggravated by service-connected hearing loss or tinnitus.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and medical literature provided evidence against a causal relationship between the Veteran’s loss of balance and his in-service acoustic trauma or service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- loss of balance
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 25, 2020
- Citation
- 20014188
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 20014188.
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 Veteran's COPD is granted as service connected. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and loss of balance are remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's inner ear symptoms are related to service or any other condition.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal concerning service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, loss of balance, and left ear trauma has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for compressed vertebrae with residuals, bilateral hearing loss, and loss of balance to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
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