The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for pancreatic cancer and periampullary carcinoma were also denied, with the Board finding that these conditions are not related to active service, including presumed herbicide exposure.,No rating assigned or effective date provided.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations. The May 2019 VA medical opinion linking bilateral hearing loss to in-service noise exposure was found to be insufficient due to normal hearing acuity.,There were no digestive system injuries or diseases during service, and the post-service evidence showed that pancreatic cancer and periampullary carcinoma symptoms did not manifest until many years after service separation. The Board also noted a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to presumed herbicide exposure during service.,The Veteran's assertions regarding the cause of his pancreatic and periampullary carcinoma were found to be unsupported by competent medical opinion, as both the Veteran and appellant are lay persons without the necessary medical training to render such opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, pancreatic cancer, periampullary carcinoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2020
- Citation
- A20018775
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 A20018775.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.