Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, arthritis, tinnitus, hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions had their onset during or are otherwise related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development due to a hearing held by another Veterans Law Judge who is unable to participate in deciding the appeal. The veteran should be scheduled for a personal hearing and VA should take all necessary actions to comply with the notice and assistance requirements of the VCAA.

The veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents inservice, has been reopened. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, type II diabetes mellitus, and eye disability. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, including his service-connected right zygoma and maxilla fracture. The evidence did not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology after service.

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

The Board found that service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is not warranted due to lack of evidence of a diagnosed psychiatric condition, such as PTSD, related to active service. The appellant's claim for Dependent's Educational Assistance under Chapter 35 was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and the audiometric tests conducted before, during, and after service were all essentially normal. The veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus have been attributed to post-service occupational noise exposure.

The Board finds that the veteran's left ear hearing loss is causally related to noise exposure during his period of active service, and grants service connection for this disability.

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

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and chronic recurrent headaches are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims. The increased evaluation claim for residuals of a brain concussion was also denied.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to active service for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or headaches. The veteran's claims were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is attributable to his service as an air crewman and aviation electronics technician, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, warranting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus due to a lack of verified in-service stressors or diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as his hearing acuity is no worse than Level III in both ears. The veteran was granted service connection but denied an increased rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's conditions are related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and back disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied both claims.