Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, and anxiety. The claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his military service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss. The veteran's claims for service connection were therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin in or are related to his service, including as a result of noise exposure. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The veteran's hearing loss disability is unclearly related to his military service, and a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed hearing loss.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions, including sleep apnea, hearing loss, tinnitus, flat feet, and cardiomyopathy, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board also noted that there was no evidence of aggravation of any pre-existing condition during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent, as his pure tone thresholds do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a hearing disability as defined by VA standards, and therefore his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for a compensable rating for her left ear hearing loss disability.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current level of hearing acuity did not warrant such a rating.

The Board denied the petition to reopen the claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss and also denied the claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss. The evidence received since the last denial was not new or material.

The veteran's low back disability has been granted a 40 percent rating, effective March 16, 2003. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for hearing loss. The low back disability is currently rated at 20% and includes peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Board found that it is unrelated to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral foot disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a link between any diagnosed conditions and his active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cause of death was not related to his service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic encephalopathy with anxiety disorder. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating above 10 percent for service-connected bilateral tinnitus and a higher disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has ordered additional development of the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and insufficient examination reports.

The veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, pes planus, and hypertension were denied as the evidence did not show a nexus to his service.