Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The de novo issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as well as the claim for service connection for tinnitus, are REMANDED for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence to support a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not develop during service or due to in-service noise exposure and denied his claim for service connection. The claim for PTSD was also denied as there were no verified stressors.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and its associated conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for further examination and development of evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a total rating for compensation based on individual unemployability and failed to restore service connection for dyshidrotic eczema.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for another VA audiological examination, as the current examiner's opinion is inadequate and did not consider whether left ear hearing loss was aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus. The appeals seeking service connection for low back and vision problems (claimed as glaucoma) are dismissed due to the veteran's withdrawal of her appeals at a July 2008 hearing.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence of current residuals of a left ear infection. The VA examiner opined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not due to noise exposure in service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right knee disorder are being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current hearing disorder for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. For the inguinal hernia claim, the evidence did not show a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for lumbar spine injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by pure tone threshold averages and speech recognition scores that correspond to level 'II' hearing on the right and level 'III' hearing on the left. The Board finds that the evidence of record preponderates against an initial compensable rating for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine if he requires aid and attendance or is housebound due to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service injury or noise exposure. The VA examiner concluded that any current hearing loss and tinnitus were less likely due to military duty.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current conditions are not related to service.

The Board finds that the veteran's current hearing loss is not related to service and denies his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have been rated as 100 percent disabling in combination, including post-traumatic stress disorder, low back disorder, and diabetes mellitus. The VA examiner concluded that the veteran's impairment from diabetic neuropathy effectively renders him without the use of his lower extremities, necessitating the use of a wheelchair for locomotion.