Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims were previously denied in March 2005, and no new or material evidence has been presented since then.

The veteran's heart condition is not service-connected and was not caused by VA medical care.,Hearing loss was not present during service or within one year of separation, and the current hearing loss is not attributable to service.,The veteran has a presumptive exposure to Agent Orange during service, but his respiratory disorder is not linked to this exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service, and was not aggravated by active service. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the right knee, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as these conditions were not shown to be related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling examinations, and providing a medical opinion regarding the veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the left upper arm and for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that his disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for higher evaluations under applicable rating criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no medical evidence establishing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for a VA audiology examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any diagnosed hearing loss and/or tinnitus. The veteran's claims will be readjudicated after this.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA audiological examination.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to exposure to gunfire during service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by military service, as they preexisted service and there is no medical evidence linking them to military noise exposure. The claims are therefore denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD with probable IBS, recurrent aphthous ulcers, and rectal bleeding were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current bilateral hearing loss disability or sufficient symptoms to warrant a higher rating for GERD.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying stressors related to PTSD.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been rated as 70 percent disabling since March 5, 2004. The effective date for these ratings is now set to the earliest date of claim.,Effective March 5, 2004, the veteran also received a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. However, it was determined that the veteran does not have left ear hearing loss as defined by VA standards and his right ear hearing loss is not related to military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete records and need for further medical examinations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, chronic fatigue, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and headaches. The evidence submitted since the July 1991 denial did not provide new or material evidence to reopen the claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating based on current medical evidence showing Level II hearing acuity in both ears.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back condition and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred during his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.