Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and hypertension as there was no credible supporting evidence of a stressor and the Veteran did not engage in combat. The Veteran also had normal hearing during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vision impairment were denied as there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his active service. The decision also noted that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Veteran's claims for nerve and muscle damage due to surgery, right groin (to include right pelvic/hip damage causing the right side to be shorter than the left), root canal problems (to include gum disease with loss of teeth), fibromyalgia (to include body wide sickness and nausea secondary to dental work and extreme fatigue), depression, insomnia, neck problems (claimed as neck problems with bone spurring), back problems (claimed as scoliosis in the spine), chronic ear problems (claimed as hole punctured and eardrum), anemia, vision problems (to include an eye condition), hearing loss, impairment of the right knee, right foot condition, head condition, carpal tunnel syndrome, right (also claimed as paralysis of medial nerve), left knee condition, and left foot condition have all been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not related to his military service, with the onset of high frequency hearing loss during active duty. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the appellant does not have qualifying service for VA non-service-connected pension benefits and denied his claims for service connection for arthritis of both knees, arthritis of both ankles, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied as there is no current disability or evidence of in-service disease or injury.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated during active service, and is not shown to be causally related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on appeal are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been evaluated, and the appeal is denied as there are no new or material issues to reopen. The current evaluations for each condition remain unchanged.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected due to a lack of evidence showing chronic hearing loss during or within one year after service, and insufficient continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's death is being reviewed for possible service connection, and the DIC claim is inextricably intertwined with this issue. The Board requires a VA medical opinion to determine if any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to service, specifically noise exposure from heavy multi-fuel trucks during his in-service duties as a heavy truck driver.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is incurred in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA audiologist's examination and opinion regarding the appellant's claimed bilateral hearing loss, which may be related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, and the Board has dismissed this matter.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted by the AMC in February 2009, and he has now requested that the appeal be dismissed.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic right ankle disability, right shoulder disability, or bilateral hearing loss that is related to service. The Veteran's current disabilities are not considered service-connected.