Hearing loss Board decisions

The veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and back disability were denied, as the evidence did not show a nexus to his military service. His increased rating claims for Pellegrini-Stieda's disease of the left knee and myositis and ossificans of the left thigh, secondary to trauma, were also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by active service and is not related to military noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder strain and right ear hearing loss, as well as increased ratings for low back strain and arthritis of the thoracic spine. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for left ear hearing loss is referred to the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and is denied an increased evaluation for a postoperative injury to the left ring finger.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is due to noise exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's symptoms began in service and have persisted since. Service connection was denied for an unspecified ear condition due to a lack of current disability evidence.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a claim prior to May 11, 2005.

The Board has reviewed the claims for increased evaluations and service connection, but found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation or service connection in all cases. The appeals are therefore denied.

The RO denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus, currently evaluated as noncompensably disabling.,The RO also denied his petition to reopen his previously denied claims of service connection for hearing loss and a back disability, including as secondary to bilateral pes planus.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss is not attributable to his time in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence submitted. However, the medical evidence does not establish a link between his current hearing loss disability and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The VA examiner found it less likely than not that the current hearing loss and tinnitus were caused by noise exposure in service.

The veteran is service connected for several conditions and meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that there is no evidence to support the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as his current condition does not appear to be related to his military service.

The Board found that the newly submitted evidence is cumulative and redundant, not relating to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Therefore, the claim was denied as new and material evidence has not been received.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but further development is needed to determine if he currently has a disability as defined by VA standards. The opinions provided are not based on review of the claims file.

The veteran's claims for increased disability rating for gross tremor and service connection for right and left ear hearing loss are being remanded due to incomplete examination reports.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation for various conditions, including bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, a right ankle disability, positional vertigo, gastritis, a left ankle disability, a right shoulder condition, and chronic lumbosacral strain and myositis with degenerative joint disease.