Hearing loss decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's hearing loss is related to service, including any specific acoustic trauma he experienced in service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development including medical nexus opinions and VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service onset or causation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records. The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back injury, an initial rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus, and earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling an audiological examination and obtaining VA clinic records.

The VA determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating based on current medical evidence.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for arthritis of the right knee, lateral instability of the left knee, and arthritis of the left knee. The veteran's current hearing loss is not considered a disability under VA criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claim for service connection for a right thumb disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of the claim of entitlement to a compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has found that the veteran had chronic left knee disorder with degenerative joint disease incurred during service. The veteran does not currently have a hearing loss disability within VA's definition of such a condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records and medical records relied upon concerning those records.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred in service and is granted service connection.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records review.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss did not occur during or as a result of his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated during service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's residuals of a para-trachea tumor involving the trachea and esophagus due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The other claims remain pending.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus of the left ear due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his period of military service and grants service connection for this condition. The issues regarding migraine headaches and hypertension are remanded for further development.