Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board determined that the appellant did not serve in active duty and therefore is not considered a veteran for purposes of receiving VA benefits. The Board also found no evidence to support service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his prostate cancer did not metastasize to his bladder and therefore was not a contributing factor to his death. The Board also found no evidence linking his causes of death to exposure to toxic herbicides.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids was not addressed. The RO granted service connection and a noncompensable evaluation for bilateral defective hearing, effective from April 10, 1995.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation based on the current evidence of record.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current right ear hearing disability related to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is a disability incurred during service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have hearing loss in either ear, as per VA standards. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the previously denied claim of hearing loss. The decision also noted that the RO's February 1988 denial was final.

The veteran's total combined rating of 80 percent for service-connected and nonservice-connected disabilities, including his partial amputations and shoulder conditions, meets the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and an increased rating for idiopathic vitiligo with solar urticaria of the extremities and trunk, finding that he did not meet the criteria for these conditions based on medical evidence. The veteran was assigned a 30 percent rating for his skin condition as of August 30, 2002.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, and a retinal tear of the left eye due to lack of evidence showing onset during service or relationship to service.,Service connection was not granted as the veteran's conditions were found to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VCAA notice and will need to provide proper notification before making a decision on service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board finds that the veteran's claimed left knee disability, headaches, bilateral ankle disability, TMJ, and bilateral hearing loss are not related to his active duty service. The evidence does not show any chronic disabilities for these conditions during or within one year following service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claims and found new and material evidence to support service connection for numbness and tingling of hands and fingers, enlarged prostate, bilateral hearing loss, shrapnel wounds to the left hand and face, and residuals of jaw injury. The appeals are granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after service. The VA examiner could not provide a nexus opinion without resorting to speculation.

The veteran's claim for a specific evaluation of bilateral hearing loss from January 16, 2003 is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding whether he wants a travel board hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the new evidence did not provide a basis to establish that his current hearing loss was aggravated during service.