The Board denied service connection for brain tumors, including as secondary to right ear otosclerosis with hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no link between the Veteran's brain tumors and his active duty service, and the opinion was supported by thorough rationale considering medical literature. The Board also noted that there is no evidence of ionizing radiation exposure during service which could be a risk factor for multifocal glioblastoma.
- Claimed conditions
- Brain tumors, Right ear otosclerosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 30, 2021
- Citation
- 21026384
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 21026384.
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 Board granted service connection for brain tumors, recurrent tumors of the right ear, a lung tumor, melanoma of the left cheek, nose, and right ear, a bilateral eye condition with facial nerve pain, and residuals of gold weight in the right eyelid, all to include as due to in-service exposure to biological and chemical agents used in Project SHAD.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's brain tumors are found to be caused by an event not reasonably foreseeable, and he is granted compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for his brain tumors.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has ordered additional development to obtain records related to the Veteran's forehead tumor, which may be relevant to his cause of death claim. The case will be remanded for further action.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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