Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the veteran's hearing loss of the left ear had its onset in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating at any point since August 1, 2001.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a skull fracture, tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss. The veteran's current conditions are related to his military service or a service-connected disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and chronic otitis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The veteran's appeal was granted, with a 20% disability rating for post-operative residuals of temporomandibular joint dysfunction from August 18, 2004. The other claims were either denied or not addressed in the decision.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA skin examination and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case.

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

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss and tinnitus, and thus the veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a cut on the inner left thigh (left little finger), diabetes mellitus type II, and migraine headaches have been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing loss does not warrant a rating greater than zero percent, and thus denied his claim for an initial (compensable) disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left leg injury, residuals of cold injury to the feet, and bilateral hearing loss. However, it denied these claims on their merits as there is no current evidence of disabilities or a reasonable possibility of substantiating them.

The Board found sufficient evidence to grant service connection for bilateral hearing loss, attributing it to in-service noise exposure without ear protection.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hearing loss, but finds that additional development is necessary regarding the underlying service connection claim. The matter will be remanded to the RO for further action.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied his claim of service connection for this condition. The claims of service connection for tinnitus and asbestosis are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, a back disorder, a psychiatric disorder, and a foot disorder. The decision found that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence to support any of these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and that any current symptoms were not incurred during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and SSA records.

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

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asbestosis, chronic sinusitis, and a low back disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression) due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The veteran's complaints were not supported by medical records or VA examinations.