Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and Meniere's syndrome. The veteran was not granted service connection for an anxiety disorder as secondary to the service-connected shell fragment wound to the right arm and wrist.,Service connection was denied because there is no medical evidence of a causal link between the claimed conditions and active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as evidenced by a lack of in-service complaints or treatment for these conditions. The VA audiologist found no connection between the veteran's current hearing disability and military noise exposure.

The Board finds that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are attributable to active service, including his combat service in Korea. Therefore, service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus, Type 2. The veteran's claims are based on presumed exposure to herbicides during his service in the Gulf War.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and dermatological condition are related to his military service. The benefit of doubt has been resolved in favor of the veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to the need for audiometric evaluations and opinions regarding the veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of these conditions during his active service or within one year thereafter.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, finding that new and material evidence was not presented to reopen the claims. The issue of an increased rating for PTSD is being remanded.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not attributable to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran did not incur hearing loss or tinnitus as a result of his military service and denied all claims for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral high frequency hearing loss has been productive of no more than Level III hearing acuity in the right ear and no more than Level II hearing acuity in the left ear, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The VA determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on his audiometric test results.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The current disabilities are related to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated in service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss of the left ear does not warrant a compensable evaluation at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected postoperative separation of web fingers at the right middle finger and right ring finger warrants a 10 percent disability rating, effective November 2003. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in obtaining service medical records and personnel records, as well as for additional examinations of the veteran's back disorder and hearing loss.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, including hearing loss and tinnitus, is being remanded due to missing service records. Additional efforts are required to locate relevant medical records from his active duty service.