Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active military service.

The Board found no evidence of a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The right ear was shown to have hearing loss, but the claim was also denied as there was no clear and unmistakable evidence that the hearing loss pre-existed service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, a left foot disorder, and a right foot disorder. The claim for a left ear hearing loss disability was also denied as there is no current disability established.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, seizure disorder, and bilateral ear condition, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not establish continuity of symptomatology after service for any of these conditions.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss to his military service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further action, including scheduling VA examinations and adjudicating increased rating claims and secondary service connection claims. The TDIU claim will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD need further development to corroborate stressors and obtain medical opinions regarding their etiology. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, recurrent tinnitus (to include whether a separate rating for each ear is warranted), and left otitis media, status post mastoidectomy were denied. The Board found no legal basis for the assignment of separate schedular 10 percent disability ratings for bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disorders, and residuals of encephalitis (including a seizure disorder) as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an extraschedular rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as the evidence did not show that the disability presented such an exceptional or unusual picture with factors like frequent periods of hospitalization or marked interference with employment.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated by his active duty service. The preexisting hearing loss noted at entrance to service was considered, and no permanent clinical aggravation during service is established.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus between current hearing loss and tinnitus and military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and that any such disability is not related to active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing acuity during the appeal period did not warrant a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for cervical spine and left elbow disabilities were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claims of cervical spine and left elbow disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. The veteran's hearing loss was found to meet VA criteria for a disability, but his claim for service connection was denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for hypertension and service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, left ear hearing loss, and PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or reasonable possibility of a favorable VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and need for medical examinations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, and jungle rot. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.