Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back injury and found that new evidence received since the May 1994 administrative decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Veteran's current low back disability is not considered to be related to his active duty service, as there is no medical evidence showing a chronic condition during service or within one year after separation. Service connection for right ear hearing loss and bilateral leg disability was denied due to lack of a diagnosed disability.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability and his service, including exposure to noise trauma therein. The appeal is denied.

The Board has determined that a hearing transcript cannot be produced and the Veteran wishes to have a Travel Board hearing at his local RO. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that the pre-existing right ear hearing loss was not aggravated by service and did not warrant presumptive service connection due to noise exposure. The left ear hearing loss was not shown within one year of separation from service or during service, and thus could not be presumed. Tinnitus was also not shown within one year of separation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, or erectile dysfunction due to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for the conditions appealed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities related to service or noise exposure.

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

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted, and the TDIU claim remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is service-connected, and his left ear hearing loss disability warrants a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected.,Bilateral hearing loss was not found to be related to service, but the claim remains pending as it may still be connected through other theories of entitlement.,Right knee DJD and low back disability are both found to be secondary to left knee DJD with effusion, pseudo laxity, and scar. The Veteran's tinnitus is also found to have started during service.,The Veteran's low back disability remains pending as it may still be connected through other theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and the Board found that they are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability evaluation for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a contemporaneous VA examination and additional VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely due to noise exposure in service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as noncompensable, and the evidence does not support a higher rating based on his exceptional pattern of hearing impairment.

The Board denied service connection for a thyroid disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after the Veteran's active duty. The Board also found that any current thyroid disorder is less likely caused by military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the underlying claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss can be adjudicated on the merits.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable due to the presence of level I hearing in both ears, which corresponds to a noncompensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were productive of clear interference with normal employability during the period from September 29, 1992 to April 5, 1994, warranting a 10 percent rating under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.324.