Hearing loss decisions — 2008

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

The Board found that the reduction in the rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability from 50 percent to noncompensable, effective December 1, 2006 was proper based on the medical evidence of record.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a gunshot wound to the right groin with sciatica. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen these claims.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Bilateral Hearing Loss, but has not decided whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for headaches with photophobia due to head injury and left ear hearing loss, as well as his claim for service connection for a bilateral leg condition. The veteran's headaches are rated at 10 percent, his left ear hearing loss is also rated at 10 percent, and he does not have a diagnosed bilateral leg condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, right elbow disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee disability. The effective dates requested by the veteran have not been granted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and determined that new and material evidence had been submitted. The Board also found that the veteran's current hearing loss is attributable to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ear hearing loss, degenerative disc disease (DDD), obstructive lung disease (OLD), and acne. The veteran was assigned non-compensable disability ratings for his left ear hearing loss and DDD, and a 10 percent rating for OLD. His claim for acne was denied.

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

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disability, and bilateral hernia disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left ear hearing loss and low back disorder are not related to service, thus denying both claims. The veteran's left ear hearing loss is denied because there is no competent medical evidence showing a nexus between his in-service exposure and his current condition. His low back disorder is granted as it was incurred during active duty.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The RO also granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees, but later severed this service connection due to a finding of clear and unmistakable error in the April 2005 rating decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus to service. The claim for lumbosacral strain was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no persuasive medical evidence linking his current condition to active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, finding no clinical diagnosis of PTSD and attributing the current hearing loss to civilian occupational noise exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss, with blockage as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim. The left ear hearing loss disability is also denied.

The veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC under section 1318 due to his total disability rating being less than 10 years prior to his death.

The veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims began during his military service. The VA has not provided sufficient evidence to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not due to noise exposure during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss cannot be granted.