Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for myopic astigmatism but denied it due to lack of evidence showing a current disability related to service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not compensably rated.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, right and left ear hearing loss, a left knee disorder, arthritis of the right knee, low back disorder, allergy disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities or a link to active service.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service, including noise exposure. As such, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board found no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic hearing loss, and concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's rating for bilateral hearing loss from 40% to noncompensable was proper and upheld the decision. The evidence showed improvement in his hearing condition, warranting a reduction.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are found to be related to his military service, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating based on the audiometric test results provided. The initial noncompensable rating remains in effect.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis, gout, back disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, lung disability (claimed as breathing problems), sleep problems, heart disability, kidney disability, and neck cancer have been denied. The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for gout.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including as due to undiagnosed illness, cannot be substantiated based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, chronic tinnitus, and chronic skin disorder (including chloracne) are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service, including exposure to noise. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus related to noise trauma in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence showing a current disability and no causal link between the claimed conditions and his military service. The claim for right ear hearing loss was also denied as there is no evidence that the condition occurred in or was caused by his service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance for the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his period of military service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 10 percent rating effective March 16, 2004. The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn as to the issue of service connection for basal cell carcinoma to include as secondary to herbicide exposure. A compensable rating for right ear hearing loss was denied. The claim for reopening the IBS service connection was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right leg and neck shrapnel wounds, hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied as there is no credible evidence of in-service injury or exposure to noise that could have caused these conditions. The Veteran did not serve in Korea and has not received the Purple Heart.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claim, including obtaining medical records and ensuring all relevant information is considered.