Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service records and medical records from SSA.

The case is being remanded for further development of service treatment records and consideration of the veteran's claims, including a potential secondary service connection claim for left knee arthritis.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims for additional development due to missing service medical records and inconsistencies in the evidence. The case will be reviewed again after the requested development is completed.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and service. The claim to reopen the nephritis claim was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability or tinnitus, and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable evidence that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss existed prior to her entry into service, thus presuming soundness at enlistment. The claim was denied as there is no medical evidence showing a direct relationship between her current hearing loss and active duty service.

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or for many years following service, and is not shown to be causally related to service. Therefore, his claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a higher initial rating since March 17, 2003.

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 denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for various conditions, including chronic right ear hearing loss, elevated creatine phosphokinase enzyme level, high cholesterol, left pectoralis major muscle tear residuals with muscle atrophy, right ring finger injury residuals, and left ear hearing loss. The decision found that none of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the award of service connection for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, thus upholding the severance of service connection effective April 1, 2005.

The veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition, bilateral hearing loss, and vertigo. The veteran did not meet the criteria for these conditions during or after his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss does not warrant an initial compensable rating, and thus denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether the veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma during service. Therefore, service connection for this disability is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a pre-existing disability in service or within one year post-service. The VA examinations did not show any current hearing loss meeting VA criteria for a disability.

The Board denied the veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD. The evidence received since the final RO decisions did not relate any of these conditions to service or provide a confirmed diagnosis.

The Board has denied service connection for ligamentous laxity of the MCP joint of the right thumb and residuals of a left knee injury. Service connection is necessary for examination for osteoarthritis of the right knee, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,The Board also denied an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.