Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a higher evaluation, as his hearing acuity was consistently at Level II in both ears.

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

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 denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral eye disorder, finding that there was no current disability meeting VA criteria for these conditions. The veteran's claimed conditions were not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and the medical examiner opined that current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a gunshot wound to the right thigh. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected hearing loss disability and denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist, right wrist, and bilateral hand and finger disorders as secondary to his service-connected bilateral epicondylitis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also found that his pre-existing bilateral hearing loss was aggravated during service, and thus he is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran does not have hearing loss disability as contemplated by VA regulations and any current hearing impairment is not attributable to service. Bilateral tinnitus was also not attributable to service.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, or peripheral vascular disease of the upper and lower extremities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and his tinnitus is not related to service. Therefore, service connection for both conditions is denied.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his service, and the claim for service connection was denied.

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

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA audio examination to determine the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining any available employer records and addressing the issue in a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have a hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes, and thus service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of head trauma (including an upper lip scar and a forehead scar) have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Specifically, the VA examiner found that the veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus related to service. The examiner also noted that the alleged injuries resulting in scars on the upper lip and forehead were not documented in service records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and granted a 20 percent rating for his intervertebral disc syndrome. The veteran does not have diagnosed PTSD, but has mild to moderate symptoms of intervertebral disc syndrome.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to further development required, including consideration of a potential clear and unmistakable error in a previous rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence submitted by the appellant.