Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. As a result, these claims remain denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his service and have denied all of his claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an audiological examination. The veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is not currently before the Board.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection and rating of disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, right lower extremity, peripheral vascular disease, left lower extremity, increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, and initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus, which is a service-connected condition.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his total combined rating is only 60 percent and he does not meet the percentage standards for schedular TDIU consideration. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, dizziness/vertigo, low back pain, tinnitus, and a skin condition are denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy during his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss, tinnitus, or carpal tunnel syndrome that is related to his military service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no legal basis to grant higher evaluations under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has ordered a remand due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be reviewed again after further examination.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, fibromyalgia (including as secondary to service-connected Raynaud's disease), and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence supporting the occurrence of in-service stressors.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of current disability or a link to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for an increased rating for compression fracture at T7. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to military service or had their onset during active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of hearing loss or tinnitus, and his reports are not credible. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated therein.