Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his GERD and military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor could they be presumed to have been so incurred. The evidence did not establish a current disability for PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The Veteran's hearing loss became manifest many years after service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and initial ratings for diabetes mellitus were denied. The claim for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss was not addressed as it is not part of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus between current hearing loss and tinnitus and service, thus denying the claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee disability, bilateral trench foot, viral hepatitis, dental disorder (grinding teeth), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right arm lipoma, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and left big toenail condition. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily his respiratory disability and hearing loss, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the fair preponderance of the evidence indicates that the Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease and a back condition, as well as his claim for increased rating for PTSD. The Board found no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss was denied. The claims for increased evaluations of PTSD and facial scars were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence, including inability to verify periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training. A VA audiological examination is needed to assess the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development due to deficiencies in the October 2006 decision, including inadequate reasons and bases for denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss and allergies.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and is not presumed due to exposure to noise. The VA examinations did not find a link between the Veteran's current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final rating decision. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is being evaluated further.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the issues concerning asthma, depression, and stress. The claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and low back disability are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is granted. Service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, to include residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, was denied as there is no evidence that it is related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence submitted since the May 1980 rating decision. The claim is now reviewed on a de novo basis.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to and after August 28, 2006 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of zero percent prior to August 28, 2006 or in excess of 50 percent on and after August 28, 2006.

The Board granted service connection for cold weather residuals, bilateral hands and feet. The Veteran's other claims were not supported by the evidence presented.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the unavailability of his service treatment records. The Board requires a VA audiometric examination to determine if he has current disabilities related to his military service.