Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current eye disorder and bilateral hearing loss are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease, nor is there any credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining medical records. The Veteran's claims of higher initial evaluations for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right fourth finger disability are being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as evidenced by normal hearing levels at discharge. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions were not caused by military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,For the initial rating claim, the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was rated at 10 percent effective August 2, 2007, and right ear hearing loss was not compensable.

The Board found that the appellant's character of discharge from service is not a bar to entitlement to VA compensation benefits, as his cocaine abuse during service was due to his in-service PTSD.

The Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for pilondial cyst, right ankle injury, and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need to obtain VA treatment records from New Orleans.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the claims of service connection for hypercholesterolemia and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus. The claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, an increased rating for PTSD, and a compensable rating for residuals of excision of a ganglion cyst of the left wrist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his active service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates have already been affirmed by the Court, and no CUE argument has been advanced. Therefore, these matters are dismissed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for various orthopedic conditions, including back, shoulder, knee, hearing loss, and tinnitus. However, the claims are being remanded for further development, including VA examinations.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service-connected disabilities and denied the claim.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 8, 2006 for the grant of a 10 percent evaluation for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied, and the appeal is dismissed as there are no pending issues to be decided.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting psychiatric disorder was aggravated by his military service, and thus service connection is granted for this condition. The claim of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination with an audiologist to determine the etiology and severity of any hearing loss or tinnitus disorders. The issues on appeal are also remanded due to procedural errors in the issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case.