Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during service. The gap in time between service and post-service complaints also weighed against granting service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA audio examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss, loss of sense of smell, loss of sense of taste, and cervical spine disability. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, concluding that his current hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and reopening his claim for service connection for a right foot disorder were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and there was no new and material evidence to reopen the right foot disorder claim.

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 or aggravated therein.

The veteran's appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board found that the veteran has left ear hearing loss, but it is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20 percent effective June 5, 2007. Prior to that date, the rating remained noncompensable.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between current hearing loss or tinnitus and his military service.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to consider such matter.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back disability is related to in-service lumbar punctures, and thus service connection for these residuals is granted. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, while his claim for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is denied due to lack of in-service exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly assess the veteran's current hearing acuity and determine whether any current hearing loss or tinnitus was incurred in or aggravated by his active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found the veteran's testimony regarding his exposure to noise during military service, combined with a private audiologist's opinion, sufficient evidence to grant this claim. The initial rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a hearing disability of either ear that can be medically attributed to any injury, disease, or event during active military service. The appeal is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not due to disease or injury incurred in service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred in service. The preponderance of evidence is against granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not begin in or was aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.