Hearing loss Board decisions

The veteran's appeal for service connection on three issues (bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and perforated eardrums) has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The claims for increase in post-traumatic stress disorder and Dependents' Educational Assistance are deferred pending completion of the development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and higher ratings for his back disability, as well as his claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and schedule the veteran for a VA examination.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a noncompensable disability rating. The claim for a higher initial rating for diabetes mellitus with hypertension and diabetic retinopathy is remanded due to incomplete records.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was denied. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hip condition, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision found no current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service, particularly given the presumptive exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denies these claims.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is not warranted, as the veteran's claims were received on May 31, 2005, which was after the one-year separation from his military service. The earliest possible effective date is therefore May 31, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further medical opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right hand disability, pulmonary tuberculosis, and bilateral hearing loss.,There is no evidence of current disabilities or any link to service.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his claim for hearing loss and concluding that current hearing loss is not related to active military service.

The veteran requested to withdraw the appeal regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and as a result, the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further procedural and evidentiary development, including an audiometric examination and VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are denied as there is no evidence to support a finding of an in-service event, injury, or illness that would be etiologically related to his current conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of an ear infection, finding no competent medical evidence showing a current disability that meets VA criteria.

The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of any hearing loss found, and for an addendum from the March 2008 VA audiological examiner regarding whether any current hearing loss is related to service or noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service. Service connection was also denied for hypertension as secondary to PTSD.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for additional development due to procedural errors and missing evidence.