Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence received since the last statements of the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic headaches, hypertension, or a dental disorder. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's audiometric test results throughout the appeal period corresponded to numeric designations no worse than Level V for the right ear and Level I for the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss warrants a noncompensable disability rating prior to April 17, 2009 and a compensable disability rating of 10% effective from April 17, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the Board found that his hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to noise exposure during active military service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

For the period from March 11, 2004 through May 20, 2007, the Veteran's right eye corneal scar with foreign body removal and corneal erosion syndrome was manifested by no worse than corrected distant vision of 20/40.,Since May 21, 2007, the Veteran's right eye corneal scar with foreign body removal and corneal erosion syndrome has been manifested by active pathology.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a travel board hearing due to his failure to report at the scheduled hearing and subsequent hospitalization of his companion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that both conditions are causally related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss with otitis externa, disseminated coccidoidomycosis, and ureterolithiasis were denied. The decision also noted that the Veteran does not have a disability manifested by peripheral neuropathy resulting from his military service or exposure to Agent Orange herbicides.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing on the issue of SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another. The other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction were denied. The claim for a skin disorder was also denied as it is not related to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for a low back disability was withdrawn by the Veteran. The case is remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing at the RO in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disorder and an ear disorder, including bilateral hearing loss. However, the evidence does not support a finding of service connection based on active duty service or any other theory.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of a head injury (concussion) was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of chronic neurological disability attributable to a concussive head injury during service, and thus denied this claim. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss disability was denied as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may incurrence of an organic disease of the nervous system (sensorineural hearing loss) be presumed. The evidence did not show a current disability within one year following separation from ADT.