Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran did not have bilateral hearing loss during service and there is no evidence linking his post-service hearing loss to service. Therefore, the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss for accrued benefits purposes is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for his claimed conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss or service connection for skin cancer, hypertension, COPD, or chronic bronchitis based on herbicide exposure. The veteran's current disabilities were found to be unrelated to service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The veteran's claim for restoration of a 10 percent disability evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration.

The Board determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss existed prior to service and was not aggravated by military noise exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss were not incurred in service, as there is no evidence of any such conditions during or immediately after his military service. The VA audiometric examination found no current hearing loss or tinnitus.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. His PTSD was rated at 30 percent, his bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a compensable rating, and he does not have a respiratory disorder due to asbestos exposure.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (post-traumatic stress disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus) render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a service-connected disability for tinnitus or bilateral hearing loss with vertigo (Mônière's disease). The evidence shows no in-service occurrence of these conditions and no medical link to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and sensorineural hearing loss could not be presumed to be related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against the claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, hearing loss, and tinnitus related to exposure to Agent Orange are denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability meeting the threshold requirements and insufficient competent medical evidence to associate his claimed condition with an established event or disease in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to conflicting medical findings and need for further analysis of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The veteran's claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and a back disorder are being remanded to the RO for further development, including consideration of new evidence submitted by his buddy statement.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service medical records and requests for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his time in service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset in service or due to his malaria medications, and thus denied service connection for both conditions.

The veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss condition that is related to his period of service. His hearing was normal at the time of both his entrance and separation examinations.,There is no evidence of a left knee condition during the veteran's first period of service, and there is conflicting medical evidence regarding whether he had a pre-existing left knee condition prior to service or if it developed post-service.