Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his time in service, specifically due to acoustic trauma during military service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer and hearing loss, finding that there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The veteran's prostate cancer is not considered related to herbicide exposure or radiation, while his hearing loss claim is pending due to insufficient evidence.

The veteran's current bilateral hearing loss does not meet the regulatory criteria to be considered a disability for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military service. However, there is no evidence of tinnitus during or after service, and thus service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. He has not yet been scheduled for this hearing.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to service, and denied service connection for dental trauma due to lack of evidence. The claim for dental trauma was also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for post-thoracotomy neuralgia remains pending.

The veteran's right ear hearing loss is found to be service-connected, with the Board attributing at least part of his impairment to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for loss of teeth due to VA medication, as well as the reopening of a claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability (depression). The rating for duodenal ulcer was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations. The veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss remains on appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his claim of service connection for hearing loss. The VA examiner concluded that the current hearing loss and tinnitus were less likely than not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a right ankle fracture and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support higher initial ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a hearing loss disability of the right ear as defined by VA regulations for the purposes of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have asbestosis or hearing loss for VA compensation purposes and denied his claims of service connection. The claim for a higher rating for wrist disability was also denied.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss in January 1992, and no new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen this claim.

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

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable under the current rating criteria. The Board finds that his disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral high frequency hearing loss but denied an initial compensable rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The case is being remanded to the RO for further action.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed back disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus were not present in service or for many years thereafter, and are not shown to be otherwise related to service. Therefore, service connection was denied.