Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denies these claims.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is not warranted, as the veteran's claims were received on May 31, 2005, which was after the one-year separation from his military service. The earliest possible effective date is therefore May 31, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further medical opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right hand disability, pulmonary tuberculosis, and bilateral hearing loss.,There is no evidence of current disabilities or any link to service.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his claim for hearing loss and concluding that current hearing loss is not related to active military service.

The veteran requested to withdraw the appeal regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and as a result, the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further procedural and evidentiary development, including an audiometric examination and VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are denied as there is no evidence to support a finding of an in-service event, injury, or illness that would be etiologically related to his current conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of an ear infection, finding no competent medical evidence showing a current disability that meets VA criteria.

The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of any hearing loss found, and for an addendum from the March 2008 VA audiological examiner regarding whether any current hearing loss is related to service or noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service. Service connection was also denied for hypertension as secondary to PTSD.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for additional development due to procedural errors and missing evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cellulitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to the service-connected amebiasis, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, effective December 4, 2006. The claim for an increased rating remains pending.,Service connection for a depressive disorder and vertigo was denied as the conditions are not related to service or service-connected disabilities.,A May 2007 RO decision increased the evaluation of bilateral hearing loss to 10 percent, effective December 4, 2006. The veteran's claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a back disorder, and his claims of entitlement to initial compensable disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and separate 10 percent ratings for each ear for tinnitus are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral high frequency hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board finds that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus as there is no evidence of a current disability, and any pre-service hearing impairment did not increase in severity during service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by auditory acuity level I in both ears, and thus does not meet the criteria for a compensable initial rating.