Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran did not incur hearing loss as a result of his military service and denied both his claim for service connection for hearing loss and his request for an increased disability rating for tinnitus. The highest schedular rating available for bilateral tinnitus is 10 percent, which was already assigned.

The Board found that the veteran's left ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and sensorineural hearing loss could not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee, ankle, tibia and fibula fractures, PTSD, and hearing loss. The veteran's statements indicate his belief that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated in active military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, pterygium, and lichen planus. The RO also determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for prostate cancer secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not compensable and denied his claim for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as it currently does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing hearing loss did not worsen during service, but his current back injury is considered to have been incurred as a result of military service. The claim for hearing loss was denied due to lack of aggravation, while the claim for back injury was granted based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of the evidence is against finding a current bilateral hearing loss condition related to service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus did not occur during service or are related to service, thus denying his claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including clarification of the veteran's employment history and obtaining VA treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss. The case is being REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, D.C.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and decrease in visual acuity. However, no new evidence was provided to establish a direct link between these conditions and military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back disability with neurological impairment in the right leg, hypertension, pleural thick thickness, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for PTSD, a skin disorder, prostate disorder, and peptic ulcer disease. The veteran's claims for these conditions were decided based on the merits of the evidence presented.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his military service and therefore denied both claims.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination and consideration of his claim.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging a VA examination to determine the etiology of his headaches.

The Board has determined that an increased rating is not warranted for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and service connection is denied for his left knee disability.