Hearing loss Board decisions

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus, which is a service-connected condition.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his total combined rating is only 60 percent and he does not meet the percentage standards for schedular TDIU consideration. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, dizziness/vertigo, low back pain, tinnitus, and a skin condition are denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy during his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss, tinnitus, or carpal tunnel syndrome that is related to his military service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no legal basis to grant higher evaluations under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has ordered a remand due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be reviewed again after further examination.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, fibromyalgia (including as secondary to service-connected Raynaud's disease), and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence supporting the occurrence of in-service stressors.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of current disability or a link to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for an increased rating for compression fracture at T7. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to military service or had their onset during active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of hearing loss or tinnitus, and his reports are not credible. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosed hearing loss disability, as defined by VA standards. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated therein.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, and hearing loss due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted effective dates earlier than April 24, 2003 for service connection of residuals of frostbite to the hands and bilateral hearing loss based on CUE. Tinnitus was also granted an effective date prior to April 24, 2003 based on CUE.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, and PTSD have been denied. The RO has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss or an increased evaluation for his cervical spine disability or PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not due to any incident or event in active service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not pre-exist service, but were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not support a finding of current disability for either condition.