Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for a waiver of overpayment of VA education benefits was denied by the Committee on Waivers and Compromises. The Board found that the creation of the debt was due to the veteran's actions, and that recovery would not be against equity and good conscience.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is as likely as not due to exposure to acoustic trauma during his period of active service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the unavailability of his service medical records and the need to obtain additional VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, and thus denied his claim for an initial compensatory evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not present during service or within one year after separation, and there is no medical evidence linking his current disability to military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and hypertension as secondary to the veteran's service-connected PTSD. The initial rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not develop in service, was not manifested as sensorineural hearing loss to a disabling degree within the first post-service year, and is not otherwise shown to be causally related to service. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and SMC benefits are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The VA has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of any claimed conditions related to his military service.

The Board is considering multiple claims for service connection, including prostate cancer and various other disabilities. The veteran's petition to reopen his claim for left hand/wrist scar has been granted due to the submission of new evidence. However, no new or material evidence was submitted to support reopening the claims for hearing loss, hypertension, eye disability, sexual dysfunction, left foot disability, skin disability, residuals of partial right nephrectomy, and prostate cancer.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and right hand disability were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied both claims.

The veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further evaluation due to unclear medical evidence regarding the existence and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right leg disorder or bilateral hearing loss that is service-connected. The preponderance of evidence shows no current disability for either condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, cervical and lumbar disorders, retained metal in the left knee, right ankle injury residuals, and unspecified right foot disorder (history of plantar warts). The appeals were all denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims.

The veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for further testing and VCAA notice.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to inadequate notice and examination, requiring further action including a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter and has not been shown to be causally related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that his disability did not warrant a higher rating at any time since the original date of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss within the meaning of VA regulations and thus denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.