Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, finding that the earliest communication from the Veteran in the claims file indicating intent to apply for service connection was dated January 23, 2002.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hyperlipidemia, low back disability, tinnitus, hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and a left thigh scar, have all been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the appellant's urinary incontinence, right testicular disability, left ear hearing loss, cervical spine arthritis, and traumatic brain injury were not incurred or caused by his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, inflammatory diverticulitis, and incisional hernia. The decision found that the Veteran did not have a current disability under VA criteria for hearing loss and that there was no evidence of a change in hearing during service. For the other conditions, the Board noted that there were no opinions provided regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted based on the presumption of service connection due to exposure to loud noise during service. The claim for PTSD remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability, finding that it is attributable to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service. Updated VA treatment records are needed, as well as a new opinion from a VA audiologist.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service, and the claim cannot be presumed due to noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable, and the Board found that his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for alcohol and drug dependency, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, lower back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been reopened due to new evidence received since previous denials. However, the Board finds that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to service or post-service treatment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and found that the Veteran's combined rating is at least 70%, meeting the criteria for a TDIU. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD, anxiety disorder, sinusitis, left hip strain, bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, and hiatal hernia, are deemed to preclude his participation in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, and the Board finds that they did not manifest during or within a presumptive period. The low back disability was first noted decades after service.,Service connection for the Veteran's low back disability is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any current low back disability is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and clarification of his service connection claims, particularly regarding periods of active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, prostate disorder (including UTIs), and skin disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition during service or an applicable presumptive period, and the weight of the evidence did not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology following service.,There is no medical opinion linking any current conditions to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of new VA audiogram records. The skin disorder claim requires a VA examination, while the hearing loss claim needs updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, back disability, neck disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) were denied. The hearing loss claim was granted with a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset during military service or are otherwise related to such service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, and the Board finds that both conditions are related to his military service. The claim for chronic headaches is remanded as it involves a secondary basis.