Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's prostate cancer and bladder and urinary incontinence are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking them to active service. Bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral knee disability were also denied as they are not related to active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus, as well as his claim for service connection for a low back disability. The Board found that there was no credible evidence linking any current low back disability to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated by active service, and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and finds that new evidence submitted by the Veteran raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim. The private audiologist opined that the Veteran's current noise-induced hearing loss is related to his in-service exposure to weapons fire.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of cold injury, and arthritis secondary to back injury and cold weather injury. The claim for a compensable rating for anal fistula and external hemorrhoids was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed PTSD and hearing loss conditions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various disorders he attributes to an adverse reaction to inoculations received during his Army Reserve service. The Board has ordered additional medical records and personnel records be obtained, as well as in-patient treatment records from the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center and Ireland Army Community Hospital.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as evidenced by a lack of in-service complaints or treatment for these conditions. The VA examiner found no evidence linking the current hearing loss and tinnitus to service exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination and review of the claims file to determine if his hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred during active service, with the left knee disability being granted on a direct basis. The appeal is now remanded for additional development regarding the left knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, as defined by VA regulations. The Veteran's service treatment records did not show any evidence of hearing impairment during service and his separation examination also showed normal hearing. Post-service medical records do not indicate the presence of hearing loss until many years after service. Therefore, the Board has denied the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of a VA examination, as well as additional evidence being needed.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a chronic condition during service or continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart condition, an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected pes planus, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss and neuropathy of the left foot. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria for hearing loss, and the Board found that his exposure to noise during service did not result in any hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than May 25, 2006 for tinnitus service connection and denied his increased rating claims for bilateral hearing loss and knee disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, sleep apnea, hepatitis C, and a gastrointestinal disorder. The Board denied the remaining claims of service connection for low back, headache, sinus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.