Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has restored the 10 percent rating for service-connected residuals of a left thumb fracture and granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's anxiety disorder is not shown to meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his service records and exposure history.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, skin disorder, and peripheral neuropathy were denied. The claim for migraine headache disability was also denied as no current diagnosis of the condition has been established.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated medical records and to schedule the Veteran for an audiological examination to determine if he currently has a hearing disability for VA purposes, and whether any such disability is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not met the criteria for a compensable rating since December 4, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a proper VA examination and opinion regarding his in-service noise exposure as a military police officer.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between current conditions and active duty. The Veteran's hearing loss is attributed to post-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his inservice acoustic trauma, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus began during active service and has continued to the present. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence supports a grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss disability. The Board also finds in favor of granting service connection for tinnitus, finding it originated during active service.

The Board denied all three issues of service connection, finding that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disorder were not related to his military service. The Board also found that any hallux valgus and metatarsus primus varus and left ankle sprain as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability was not established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of his employment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing did not meet the criteria for a hearing loss disability set forth at 38 C.F.R. § 3.385, and therefore denied his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including medical opinions on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for gout has been withdrawn. The case is remanded to assess the current severity of his left ear hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disability with shoulder blade pain and shakiness of knees, and urinary/kidney stone disability are all denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his service.