Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no credible evidence of in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The case was remanded to obtain an additional VA medical examination to determine the etiology of any bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.,The VA also found no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes regarding right arm injury with residual scar, thus denying entitlement to a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss did not occur during service or is not related to in-service noise exposure, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found no evidence of acute or subacute peripheral neuropathy that would allow presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure. It also noted there was no in-service diagnosis or treatment for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or residuals of burns to the abdomen and groin, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and skin cancer (claimed as melanoma and basal cell carcinoma) are not related to his military service or exposure to Agent Orange. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's conclusion is inconsistent with Hensley v. Brown, and thus remanded for further examination to determine if the veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for injured feet, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a hearing loss disability or tinnitus as a result of service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining authentication of supporting statements and securing treatment records. The veteran's inner ear disability is being evaluated to determine if it is related to service noise trauma.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sensorineural hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for PTSD. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability as defined by VA regulations.

The VA determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, resulting in a denial of his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current heart disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for cholesteatoma of the left ear, finding that it first manifested many years after service and is not related to any aspect of service including exposure to acoustic trauma or as secondary to left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding that his left ear disorders were not caused by VA medical treatment.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, depression, HIV infection, Hepatitis B and C, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The reasons were that there was no diagnosis of PTSD or other conditions in service, no credible evidence supporting claimed stressors, and no medical nexus between current disabilities and military service.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected gunshot wound to the right foot with partial proximal phalanx loss and third ray and fibular digital nerve loss, effective December 1, 2005. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is pending in the REMAND section.