The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, remanded claims for left ear hearing loss, GERD, thoracolumbar spine condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show a current disability of right ear hearing loss or tinnitus related to service. The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss was less likely than not due to military noise exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), thoracolumbar spine condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 2, 2025
- Citation
- A25040680
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 appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others were remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
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