Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, and his claim for service connection for vertigo is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not etiologically related to service and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for TDIU was received on March 4, 2005. The effective date of this grant is set at March 4, 2004, based on the evidence showing his service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment as of January 9, 2003.

The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to acoustic trauma sustained during active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with no presumption or other special theory of connection applied.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his exposure to noise trauma in service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to unclear evidence regarding his employability.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted and assigned a 50 percent evaluation for the period prior to June 1, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA audiological examination. The issue of service connection for PTSD will also be addressed in the remand process.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's skin rash claim is withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus, and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be established. Service connection for PTSD has been granted but an increased rating remains denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized non-VA dental expenses incurred on October 27, 2004 due to lack of pre-authorization and failure to meet the requirements under VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, hearing loss, right knee disability, osteoarthritis of the hips, left hand disability, flat feet, and depression. The evidence submitted did not provide a link between these conditions and service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination or opinion regarding whether hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected. The veteran is required to provide any additional medical records related to their ear disorders.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, a left shoulder disorder, chronic bronchitis, or a back disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin disability, PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, diabetes mellitus, lung disability, right knee disability, gallbladder disability, drug addiction, and cardiovascular disability. The appeals were not addressed on the merits of these claims.

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