Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, right foot and leg disabilities. The decision also noted that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine if the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service. The veteran served in an artillery unit where he was exposed to loud noise.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's in-service exposure to acoustic trauma and his current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, thus denying service connection for both conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his service connection claim for prostate cancer was also denied. The denial of the prostate cancer claim is based on lack of a causal relationship to service exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a prior effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for hypertension, as diastolic blood pressure readings did not consistently reach or exceed 120. For the hearing loss claim, the Board noted that an additional VA examination was needed due to the veteran's assertion about the accuracy of his most recent evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere's disease, meningioma, and duodenal ulcer. The increased rating claim for residuals of fracture of the right elbow with residual traumatic arthritis was granted to a 20 percent evaluation effective from March 1983. The increased rating claim for allergic rhinitis remained denied.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and left ear hearing loss are not service connected as secondary to his poliomyelitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing records from the Rhode Island Department of Public Health. The veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is causally related to his active service, warranting service connection. However, there is no competent evidence establishing a current diagnosis of residuals of exposure to asbestos or linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or residuals of a cold weather injury to the legs.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for hearing loss and a higher rating for his inguinal hernia have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating based on current evidence of record.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for emphysema and service connection for left ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the evidence provided, which did not support granting a higher rating or establishing service connection.

The Board finds that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, warranting service connection. The decision grants entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as both conditions are rated at zero percent under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of evidence showing current hearing loss disability, and thus, denied his claim for bilateral hearing loss. The other issues were not addressed as they are related to residual burns from service.