Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board denied all eight service connection claims, finding no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a back disorder (Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine) based on in-service exposure to acoustic trauma and degenerative joint disease, respectively. The veteran's claims are now fully resolved.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not render him unemployable due to his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and hearing loss, right ear were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The claim for an initial compensable rating for hearing loss, left ear is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to noise exposure during service, thus granting service connection.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he contends are related to noise exposure in service. The Board has determined that a VA audiology examination should be conducted to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a 10 percent rating, effective June 9, 2004.

The veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the appeal is denied.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, Hearing Loss, or Tinnitus as a result of service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. The veteran's diabetes mellitus was also not shown to be etiologically related to active service.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus and left ear hearing loss were evaluated, but the Board found no legal basis for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The issue of compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional examinations and review of the claims file to determine if any service connection is warranted for various disabilities.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tooth and gum disease, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), hearing loss, hair loss, and joint pain were all denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased ratings for dysthymic disorder and PTSD, as well as bilateral hearing loss due to the need for additional development of his medical records and examinations.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to noise exposure during service. The VA examiner concluded that the veteran's hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board has reviewed the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired eye disorder, prostate cancer, low back disorder, and hypertension and cardiac disorders. The appeals are denied as the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has requested additional evidence and is remanding the case to the RO for review. The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD manifested by depression due to a lack of competent evidence of these conditions during or after his active military duty.