Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability during service or within one year post-service, and the VA audiologist's opinion that the September 2005 private audiometry was invalid. Therefore, the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, chloracne, and diabetes mellitus were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The claim for neuropathy is reopened but service connection is not granted due to lack of a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his service, as it was within normal limits at separation. However, due to the possibility of a traumatic brain injury and its potential impact on hearing, the case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the increase in left ear hearing loss during service was due to natural progression of a pre-existing condition, and less likely related to military noise exposure. For tinnitus, there is no evidence showing it was incurred or aggravated by service. Service connection for PTSD remains pending as the Veteran's claim has not been fully adjudicated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they related to any other presumptive conditions. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there was no evidence of hearing loss within one year after separation from service. The claim for bilateral tinnitus is also denied due to lack of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for an audiological examination to determine if his current hearing loss disability had its onset in military service or is related to claimed acoustic trauma therein.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus can be reasonably disassociated from his military service and is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, PTSD, hypertension, skin growths, right hand neuropathy, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, kidney stones, and vision problems. The decision found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a broken nose, sinusitis, and bilateral eye disorders. The Veteran's conditions were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing left ear hearing loss was aggravated by his active duty for training service in the Army Reserves, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus as a result of service and denied both claims.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for Hurthle cell carcinoma, entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability by VA standards and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The VA examination results showed no worse than Level I hearing acuity in both ears, resulting in a zero percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the request for withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not develop as a result of his military service and is therefore denied.