Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board found no competent evidence linking post-phlebitis of the right leg to military service and denied the claim. The issue of reopening a hearing loss claim is being remanded for further development.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right acoustic neuroma with hearing loss is not related to his prior VA treatment in 1981 and 1982, and thus compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the appellant is denied benefits for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and cerebral hemorrhage. The veteran was not granted any higher disability ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities are related to noise exposure during military service.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss within one year of discharge, and thus denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as not incurred due to active service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records, including a VA psychiatric examination for PTSD and a VA audiometric examination for hearing loss. The appellant will also be provided with corrective VCAA notice.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and an initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service. The hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, and thus denies his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and COPD, but denied them on the merits. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was not supported by new evidence related to the etiology of the condition. The claim for COPD was reopened due to a November 2004 VA examination report that is material to the etiology of the veteran's COPD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, as it is linked to exposure to high noise levels during his military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to service, and his tinnitus claim cannot be reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The appeal for these claims is denied.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, headaches (secondary to PTSD), and a skin condition on the basis that there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year after service. The examiner opined that the veteran's current hearing loss is likely due to presbycusis, his headaches are not related to service-connected PTSD, and his skin condition is unrelated to Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, while the claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, but further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, but after considering all evidence of record, including the veteran's statements about experiencing ringing in his ears since service, the Board finds that the veteran's tinnitus is more likely than not attributable to service. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or based upon housebound status is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination.