Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD related to his service, and thus, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss, tinnitus, or residuals of cold injury of the feet that are related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as his current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing these conditions. The preponderance of medical evidence did not support a connection between the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus and his time in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Meniere's disease (dizziness), a spinal cord condition of the neck and back, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty. The Board found the preponderance of evidence against a link between service and his hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for tinnitus and a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of entitlement to these benefits prior to October 13, 2005.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his pre-existing hearing loss did not worsen during military service and thus could not be considered service-connected.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which is alleged to be related to noise exposure during active duty. The RO has requested additional evidence and will arrange for a VA examination if the Veteran fails to report.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not etiologically linked to his service or any incident therein, and thus denied the claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, hearing loss, and prostate condition, including residuals of a urinary tract infection. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his active military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for gastritis to include H. pylori due to withdrawal by the Veteran. Service connection is granted for low back disability, and a 10 percent rating is assigned for acid reflux disease from October 1, 2004.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no current disability meeting VA compensation criteria for hearing loss in either ear. The left ear hearing loss was not shown to be aggravated by service, and the right ear hearing loss did not meet the threshold for a recognized disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385. Tinnitus was also not shown to have been incurred during service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30% since November 2005. The Board has now granted a 70% rating effective May 13, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, including acoustic trauma from combat in Korea. The decision grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability.,Service connection is established for bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is also established for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service, as well as to clarify the onset of tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the Veteran did not have a current disability during or within one year after service. The earliest documented hearing impairment was in 2002, approximately five decades post-service.