Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his osteoarthritis of the left knee is no more than 10 percent disabling and his bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a higher rating. The issues regarding service connection were also denied as there was insufficient evidence to establish a direct relationship between any claimed conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's current hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his active duty service. The claim for tinnitus remains pending and will require further medical evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection have been denied across multiple issues, including neck disability, hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, and acquired psychiatric disability. The RO previously denied these claims as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, including noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination and to obtain additional medical records. The case will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further examination, including interpretation of an audiogram from active duty service. The veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being reviewed.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining records from a VA Medical Center and scheduling the veteran for an examination.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred and aggravated during service, with the right ear experiencing a measurable increase in severity.

The Board finds that the veteran's tinnitus is related to service exposure, and grants service connection for this condition. Bilateral hearing loss is not connected to service.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the merits of this claim.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and hypertension. The decision found that the veteran does not have current left ear hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulation, and thus may not be granted service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there was no evidence of in-service hearing impairment or exposure to noise. The VA audiologist concluded that it is less likely than not that the current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty or any other period of service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected due to exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty. The issue of entitlement to service connection for concussion with residual headaches was withdrawn by the veteran.

The veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, and the Board found that a compensable rating was not warranted.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. His bilateral hearing loss was rated as 0 percent, hypertension as 0 percent, and back disability and undiagnosed illness-related arthralgias/myalgias were not found to be related to active military service or events therein.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active military service, as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his time in service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no in-service noise exposure or evidence of a nexus to service.