Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a neck injury (claimed as secondary to a service-connected low back disability), obesity (claimed as secondary to a service-connected low back disability), and fibromyalgia (claimed as secondary to a service-connected low back disability).

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a back injury and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions during or immediately following his active duty service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, skin disability (including tinea pedis and manus), and bilateral hand neuropathy. The August 18, 2004 VA examination related to Agent Orange exposure is missing from the record.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his dysthymic disorder, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The evaluations assigned were found to be inadequate.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations and a review of medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral leg condition, to include arthritis of the knees, and hearing loss were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a nervous disorder, as well as his request for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his duodenal ulcer. The veteran's duodenal ulcer was rated at 10 percent since September 29, 1997.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the claimed disabilities. The veteran's left ear hearing loss was found to be unrelated to service, and his psychiatric disorder claim must be remanded as it involves issues of a disability rating and effective date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for COPD, and service connection for asbestosis. The evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and cold injury residuals of the feet were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed degenerative joint disease of the lumbar and cervical spine, bilateral hearing loss, and respiratory disorder are not related to his military service. The veteran's left knee disability is also not linked to service.

The Board found no evidence of current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus meeting VA criteria for a disability. The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was insufficient medical evidence to support the presence of these conditions.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for sleep apnea syndrome and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has found that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to ambiguities in the audiological findings. Further development is needed, including a new VA audiologist examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The veteran sustained bilateral hearing loss as a result of active military service, and his tinnitus is also related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings are denied as the earliest date of claim is June 11, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the appellant's service-connected low back disability, effective from September 26, 2003. The claim to reopen for bilateral hearing loss was also granted.