The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding the preponderance of evidence against a nexus to active duty service. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown by any symptomatology during or within one year after separation from active service.,The Board also denied service connection for cardiovascular disorder, finding no credible medical opinion linking it to active duty service. The only evidence suggesting a nexus was the Veteran's own lay statements.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred in or caused by his active duty service, as there is no observed symptomatology during or within one year after separation from service. The Board found the June 2020 VA examiner's opinion to be more probative than the Veteran's lay statements.,For cardiovascular disorder, the evidence does not contain a credible medical opinion indicating a nexus between the disability and active duty service. The only evidence suggesting such a link was the Veteran’s own lay statements.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral hearing loss, Tinnitus, Cardiovascular disorder (Ischemic heart disease)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20071765
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 the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there was no evidence of a current disability in the right ear and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the left ear hearing loss and service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for a medical clarification regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected epilepsy has aggravated his bilateral hearing loss.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service acoustic trauma and a rocket blast injury.
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.