Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are not related to his period of service, and thus denied these claims.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to lack of evidence showing exposure to herbicides and no in-service or post-service diagnosis. Service connection was also not granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the claim is pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, resulting in a denial of his claim.

The Board has not clearly determined if the veteran desires a Decision Review Officer (DRO) hearing, a Travel Board hearing, or no hearing. The case is therefore REMANDED for clarification and appropriate action.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and its relationship to service. The RO is instructed to obtain all available service records, conduct a VA examination, and readjudicate the claim.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and thus denied his claim for an initial higher disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptoms after service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is attributable to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it. The veteran's current hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim for hearing loss and concluding that there is no basis for service connection for either condition.

The Board found that the veteran's left ear hearing loss, cervical spine disability, and low back disability were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The evidence did not establish a current disability in any of these conditions. The VA examiner opined that it was less likely as not that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were related to active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence to support these conditions as being related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and perforation of the left eardrum do not warrant a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the legal criteria for recognition as a former prisoner of war (POW) and denied all service connection claims due to lack of evidence supporting the claimed conditions.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as his hearing acuity is within the noncompensable range.

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

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a lumbar spine disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for either condition.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral tinnitus, and hearing loss, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.