Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated in active military service. The evidence does not support a finding of chronicity of symptoms for these conditions, and there is no objective medical evidence linking current hearing loss and tinnitus to any incident, injury, or disease during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service and concluding that his current hearing loss is not related to active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss is service-connected, granting his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have left ear hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for parapsoriasis, finding that his hearing acuity did not warrant such ratings based on VA audiometry results.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical evidence and arranging for a VA audiometric examination to determine the severity of the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for gastrointestinal disability, left ear hearing loss disability, and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a left thumb scar.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his service, warranting service connection. However, there is no evidence linking his tinnitus to his service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, a cervical spine disability, and residuals of a head injury. The initial compensable rating claim for bilateral hearing loss was also denied. The claim for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the upper lumbar spine was not addressed as it is no longer on appeal.

The veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the feet were denied. The claims for hypertension and pes planus are pending as they have been reopened.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus in his right ear and hearing loss in his right ear are related to service, warranting a grant of service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic hypertension, and a separate compensable evaluation for diabetic retinopathy. The evidence received since the December 2001 rating decision was found to be cumulative and did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has determined that the evidence is not sufficiently developed to make a decision on the veteran's claims for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss. The case is therefore being remanded for further development, including scheduling of VA examinations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for an additional audiology examination to determine the nature and severity of his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board found no medical evidence to support a relationship between the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service, thus denying both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his military service and therefore denied both claims.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated therein.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of left leg and knee injury are denied as there is no evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder, shrapnel wounds to his arms and knees, and hearing loss. The evidence does not support these claims as they are not related to service.