Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of diabetes mellitus as the veteran requested withdrawal. The case is being remanded to provide proper notice and to schedule a VA examination for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and denied the veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, increased rating for hypertensive heart disease, and TDIU. The effective date is not specified.

The veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is due to service, and the Board finds that service connection is warranted for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left ear hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and left ear otitis media are not related to his active service. Therefore, these claims have been denied.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to any service-connected disability.,The veteran's death did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss. However, the Board found no evidence of in-service hearing loss or a continuity of symptomatology since service, and concluded that current bilateral hearing loss is not related to active duty service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and determined that new evidence submitted since the last denial supports reopening the claim. However, the claim remains denied as there is no medical evidence linking the current hearing loss to service.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and did not reopen the claim of service connection for varicose veins and a blood clot in the legs due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a maximum disability rating of 10 percent, and the claim for separate ratings for each ear is denied. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability currently has a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disease and bilateral hearing loss are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran currently does not have a hearing loss disability of the right ear as defined by VA, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right hand disorder due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, vertigo as secondary to PTSD, and hypertension as secondary to PTSD due to a lack of evidence of current disabilities within the meaning of VA criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran currently has bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to his service. The evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether these conditions were incurred during service due to noise exposure from weapons firing. Therefore, service connection for both conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic bilateral hearing loss disability is service-connected, as it was incurred during his active military service due to noise exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, while residuals of cold weather injuries of the lower extremities were also denied as there is no evidence suggesting a connection with service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus, and finds that these conditions are not related to his military service. As such, the claims for service connection for both conditions are denied.