Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The appeals for the initial disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also denied as there is no legal basis to assign a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability, cancerous skin lesions, and bilateral hearing loss, all secondary to exposure to chemical dioxins (Agent Orange).

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing loss disability is no worse than Level IV in the right ear and Level III in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The veteran was seeking an increased initial disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is related to acoustic trauma incurred in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The veteran's appeal for increased disability evaluations for tinnitus and left ear sensorineural hearing loss was denied as there is no legal basis to assign a higher rating under the applicable VA regulations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to assess his service-connected bronchitis and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his military noise exposure.

The veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability was evaluated at 20 percent since March 2002 and remains at that level as of April 2007. The claim for an increased evaluation is denied.

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

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was related to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional development being required.

The veteran's PTSD with depression has been rated at 70 percent, effective February 9, 2002. The claim for an earlier effective date is granted.

The Board has granted the veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is a medical nexus between the veteran's current hearing loss and his in-service noise exposure. The issue of service connection for tinnitus remains pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus secondary to herbicide exposure and for bilateral hearing loss due to noise exposure during active duty and National Guard service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and bilateral hearing loss, right ear were not supported by the evidence of record. The claim for vertigo was denied as there is no evidence showing it was present in service or related to service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss, right ear was also denied due to lack of evidence showing its onset during service or being related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety disorder is not related to his time in service and therefore denied the claim.