Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable evaluation at any time since the effective date of service connection, and thus denies an initial compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and thus denied both claims.

The veteran is seeking service connection for hearing loss in both ears and tinnitus. The Board has determined that a new examination is necessary to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The veteran is seeking service connection for right ear perforation, to include right ear hearing loss, and a jaw disorder. The case is remanded due to the need to obtain additional service medical records and other relevant treatment records.

The veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as the maximum schedular ratings have been assigned.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for peripheral vascular disease, increased ratings for tinnitus and cold weather injury to the right and left feet, as well as hearing loss. The effective dates for these claims are also being addressed.

The Board found no link between the veteran's active duty service and his current hearing loss or tinnitus, thus denying both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as it is currently rated at level I in both ears.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not attributable to his period of active military service. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not meet the criteria for reopening the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as it is insufficient to establish new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and a skin condition to the legs, buttocks, and back due to Agent Orange exposure. The veteran's claim for hearing loss was not reopened because no new and material evidence was submitted. For the skin condition, the Board found that while the veteran had current dermatitis, there was no evidence of such condition in service or within one year after separation from service, nor any competent evidence linking it to his period of active service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a disability during or within one year after service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The VA determined that the veteran's thoracolumbar spinal pain and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of Social Security Administration records. The case will be returned to the Board for further adjudication.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss in the left ear and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claim for pes planus with hallux valgus, callosities, and degenerative arthritis was not addressed as it is pending.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete personnel records and insufficient examination reports.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, the competent and probative medical evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and may not be presumed due to exposure to noise or other hazards. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there was no prior communication indicating intent to apply for compensation benefits.