Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examination reports and medical opinions to determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, or right knee injury. However, the Veteran's residuals of a low back injury are found to be incurred in service.

The Veteran's claimed right shoulder, neck, and low back disorders, as well as hearing loss and tinnitus, are not considered to be related to service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active military service, while his neck disorder was not present in service or until years after and is not etiologically related to service.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his disability did not warrant such a rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have an increase in his bilateral hearing loss during the appeal period relevant to his claim for increased rating, and thus denied his accrued benefits claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a cold weather injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's residuals of a cold weather injury to his bilateral upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's puretone thresholds ranged between 38 and 53 in the right ear and 49 and 63 in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Board denied an initial compensable evaluation.

The Board found no evidence of a current hearing loss disability in either ear as defined by VA regulations, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine, which is no longer on appeal. The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are not related to his active military service.

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

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is not at a level of severity warranting a compensable disability evaluation. The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a current evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was denied. The RO reduced the prior 10 percent evaluation to zero percent effective August 1, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's contentions have been considered but do not meet the burden of proof for establishing service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, skin tumors, and post-operative stomach cancer due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a left knee injury, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral pes planus, left hand disability, cold weather injury of both hands, right wrist disability, and right ankle disability were denied as there is no evidence to support the assertions that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension. The evidence did not show a current disability or establish a medical nexus between active duty service and these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for malaria has been denied as there is no evidence of malaria in or after service. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder are pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disability, to include residuals of pneumonia, is denied. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the claim. The Veteran's current lung disability (COPD) was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. For his bilateral hearing loss claim, the VA has not received sufficient medical evidence to determine if a current disability exists.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his left ear hearing loss warranted a noncompensable rating. The Veteran also withdrew his appeal regarding mandibular prognathia.