Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding its etiology.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder as there was no evidence of an in-service injury, disease or event and the current disability was not shown to be related to active military service.

The veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was remanded for additional VA audiological examination.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss remains in appellate status as the RO has granted a higher rating but less than the maximum available benefit.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service, and his pre-existing hearing disability was not aggravated by his service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence supporting a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board remands the case for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss was aggravated during service.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to active service, while a right knee disorder is not.,The evidence supports the reopening of the claim for a left thumb disorder but does not support service connection.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted due to the exposure to acoustic trauma during his period of active service. The appeal for asbestosis was withdrawn by the veteran.

The veteran's PTSD has been manifested by complaints of nightmares, impaired sleep, flashbacks, irritability, lack of motivation, exaggerated startle response, and hypervigilance; objectively, productive of no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency, with Global Assessment of Functioning scores indicating mild to moderate symptoms upon VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and for new and material evidence to reopen previously denied claims for arthritis of the left wrist, residuals of a head injury with headaches, and residuals of a hand injury.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, and there is no legal basis for the assignment of a schedular rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic otitis media.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not show that it was incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of hearing loss in service or within one year after discharge, and no credible evidence linking current hearing loss to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence to support a conclusion that these conditions were related to his active service.

The veteran's right ear hearing loss has not met the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as it was not related to his service.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further development.