Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and bilateral ankle disorder, hammertoes, and spurs of the feet as secondary to his service-connected ingrown toenails. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining VA clinical records of treatment since March 2006, scheduling an audiological examination to determine the probable onset and etiology of hearing loss and tinnitus, and providing VCAA notice.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no medical evidence showing that he has been diagnosed with bilateral hearing loss, to include sensorineural hearing loss, for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for PTSD. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen these claims. The Board also found that the current hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to noise exposure during his period of active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to acoustic trauma incurred in service. As a result, these claims have been granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition as secondary to right shoulder tendonitis and also denied his request for a higher combined rating, finding that there was no evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's right ear sensorineural hearing loss is granted as service-connected, but left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not present during service and is not related to in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of medical nexus opinions and inadequate VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's right ear hearing loss existed prior to service and did not worsen during service. The right ankle and left ankle disabilities were also not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. Therefore, service connection for these disabilities was denied.

The veteran's disability compensation benefits were reduced due to incarceration periods for felony convictions, and the reduction was found to be proper.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to his military service. However, the VA has not obtained all of the necessary medical records or conducted a proper examination to determine if these conditions are service-connected.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as noncompensable. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a higher initial rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional evidence, including an audiometric examination and records from any relevant health care providers.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and increased ratings for residuals of an infected right leg and left ankle fracture due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.