Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disability. The veteran's right ear hearing loss was found to have existed prior to service and not aggravated by service. Tinnitus and the psychiatric disability were not shown to be related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to in-service noise exposure or service. The Board also found that the veteran's hypertension did not manifest within one year after separation from service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for increased rating of PTSD is also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

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

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or related to his active service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for Osgood-Schlatter disease, right knee and depression as secondary to the veteran's other conditions. Service connection was denied for degenerative disc disease of the low back, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The veteran's PTSD, right leg scar, and burns of the hands are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board denied his claims for higher ratings on these conditions. Service connection was not established for residuals of burns to the face, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's death was not service-connected, but he was eligible for a plot or internment allowance due to his honorable service and burial in a private cemetery. The non-service-connected burial allowance claim is denied.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 30 percent disabling, effective March 20, 2008. Prior to this date, the evaluation was 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is related to service exposure, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The de novo issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as well as the claim for service connection for tinnitus, are REMANDED for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence to support a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not develop during service or due to in-service noise exposure and denied his claim for service connection. The claim for PTSD was also denied as there were no verified stressors.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and its associated conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for further examination and development of evidence.