Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service and is not related to his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and therefore denied these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for scars from a shell fragment wound, finding that his claims were not supported by evidence showing service incurrence or aggravation. The veteran did not timely file a substantive appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture, and therefore does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability and an initial rating in excess of zero percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations of his bilateral hearing loss disability and service connection for Meniere's syndrome, finding no legal basis to award an increased schedular evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at 100 percent due to the severity of his condition, which includes Level XI hearing in each ear.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated in active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently suffer from bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or a psychiatric disorder. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions do not meet the criteria for service connection, including as due to ionizing radiation exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with obtaining medical records from the Iowa Hearing Clinics and for further development of the claim.

The veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss are currently rated at their maximum levels, with the effective date for service connection for tinnitus being March 10, 2005.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for low back disorder was denied as new and material evidence had not been received to reopen it. For bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, the Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The low back disorder was not found to warrant a higher rating, and the bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. Service connection for a cervical spine disorder was also denied as it is less likely than not related to his service-connected low back disorder.

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran did not have exposure to acoustic trauma during his active duty service. The RO continued a denial of service connection for back strain due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service records and conflicting medical opinions. The veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being reviewed for possible connection to military service, but additional evidence is needed.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an initial higher rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for service-connected hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus, but granted a noncompensable disability rating for his shell fragment wound of the left arm.