Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was initially denied in April 2004. New and material evidence has been received, raising the possibility of substantiating his claim.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding his claimed hearing loss, back disorder, and pulmonary disorders. The issues of service connection for hypertension and a psychiatric disorder are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in November 1980 due to lack of evidence showing an in-service disease or injury and a medical nexus. The claim cannot be reopened as new and material evidence has not been submitted.

The veteran's PTSD is not rated higher than 70 percent, and his right ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his audiometric results did not meet the criteria for any higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board found that the veteran did not have residuals of a facial injury, bilateral hearing loss was not incurred during service and is unrelated to noise exposure, and tinnitus was not incurred during service. The claims were denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and no relationship between his current hearing loss disability and military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for liver and kidney conditions due to exposure to herbicides, were all denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that no increase in disability was shown within one year prior to September 8, 2004.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active military service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, CAD, and COPD. The decision found that current hearing loss did not have its onset in service or within one year after separation from active duty. For CAD and COPD, the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred during service or due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities to meet the threshold question in a service connection claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee disability are not related to his military service. The evidence does not show a nexus between these conditions and his time in active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is due to acoustic trauma sustained during service, specifically from combat noise exposure. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The veteran's service-connected PFB is found to have begun in service and continues to the present. His bilateral hearing loss, however, does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.