Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board found that the grant of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and thus severed service connection was improper.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. For his neck disability, the evidence shows that he incurred such during active duty but there is no clear medical opinion linking it to service. Service connection is granted.

The veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection based on the evidence showing they are related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his test results did not meet the numerical criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The veteran's skin disability claim is also pending, as are his TDIU claims.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional development and consider whether there is clear and unmistakable evidence of a pre-existing right ear hearing loss that permanently increased in severity during service.

The veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The RO found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to May 7, 2007 and did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent after May 7, 2007.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred due to his military noise exposure. The Board also noted that there is no direct evidence linking the current bilateral hearing loss to service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is related to noise exposure during his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hearing loss were denied as there was no verified in-service stressor for PTSD, and the evidence did not support a diagnosis of hearing loss. The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat and his statements about in-service events could not be corroborated.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss or a chronic back disorder during service, and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are attributable to his active duty service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial, compensable rating for laceration bruise of left distal leg. The evidence does not support a finding that the current right ear hearing loss is related to service.

The veteran's hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated in service and is denied.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the veteran's claims, including for a VA examination regarding his PTSD, hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service injury or a continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic tinnitus and chronic bilateral hearing loss disability are at least as likely as not related to his active service, including combat noise exposure. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, COPD, and skin cancer. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

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 related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus. The claim for COPD is being remanded as it requires further medical assessment.,Service connection was not granted for bilateral hearing loss or bilateral tinnitus due to lack of current evidence of these conditions, and no link between service and these disabilities could be established.