Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is able to engage in substantially gainful employment despite his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not due to exposure to acoustic trauma during his period of active service. Therefore, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss, back injury, neck injury, hypertension, and pulmonary disorder were all found to be related to service. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, residuals of a neck injury, and residuals of a skull injury are not supported by the evidence. The preponderance of the evidence does not show these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss is as likely as not related to service, while his right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for disability under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension and heart disease, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The respiratory disorder was also not shown to be related to service. Hearing loss and tinnitus were not found to have been incurred during service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and otitis media, finding new and material evidence. Service connection is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's right ear hearing loss was not incurred in service and denied his claim. For left ear hearing loss, while audiometric test results showed some impairment, they did not meet the regulatory requirement for establishing a 'disability' at separation from service. The Board also denied the request for an initial compensable rating.

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

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

The Board denied a higher initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the criteria were not met.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a current disability due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has ordered additional development of evidence, including a VA examination for hearing loss and tinnitus, due to the significant passage of time since the last examinations. The veteran's claims are remanded for further action.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus related to in-service combat stressors. Service connection was also granted for cold injury residuals of the upper and lower extremities with a 30% disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus with effective dates of May 13, 2002, and May 16, 2003 respectively. The veteran's claims were reopened due to new and material evidence submitted within one year of the July 2002 denial.

The Board denied a higher rating for the veteran's service-connected hearing impairment, finding that the evidence did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty for training and pre-existed his active duty, and is not shown to have been made permanently worse therein. As a result, service connection for this condition is denied.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran did not timely perfect an appeal as to his claims for service connection for headaches, chest pain, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, otitis media, labyrinthitis, and sinusitis. As a result, these issues are dismissed.