Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss manifested during service and is related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition. The decision on tinnitus will be remanded as it requires further examination and opinion.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted, with a 10% disability rating effective March 3, 2000. The issues of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and neck condition are not currently before the Board.

The Board found that neither hearing loss nor tinnitus is attributable to the veteran's military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and were not related to military service. Asbestos-related pleural plaques do not cause current functional impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a low back disability. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and chloracne or chronic acneform eruption, other than multiple follicular cysts in both ears, are denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during service or within one year post-service. The claim for service connection for sores on arms was previously denied but new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are the result of noise exposure during his military service, warranting service connection.

The Board dismissed the appellant's appeal as he withdrew his claim for service connection for pneumonia. The hearing loss claim was also dismissed because there is no evidence of a nexus between the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence now shows that these conditions are related to noise exposure during military service, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or related to service, including as a result of noise exposure. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The veteran seeks compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for bilateral hearing loss, which he contends is due to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan conducted at VA in May 2003. The case is being remanded for further development and examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of a valid medical nexus opinion and the need for an examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an increased rating of his bilateral hearing loss, and the case is dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and skin disorder are related to service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the claimant. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and knee disability are granted.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increase in his evaluation of 80 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the increase in disability did not occur prior to November 9, 2006.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection. The initial rating for PTSD remains unchanged at 10 percent.