Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of current disability meeting VA criteria or linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral vascular disease (claimed as circulatory problems), degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 and generalized annular bulging at L3-L4 and L4-5, post-traumatic stress disorder, bronchitis, knee disorders, headaches, and hand coordination problems, were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The veteran's claims are denied as they do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board denied an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the veteran's current level of disability did not warrant a higher rating under VA's schedular criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his most severe hearing impairment did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of proper VCAA notice and compliance.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service, nor was a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability. The decision is based on lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated by service exposure to noise, and therefore grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for Meniere's disease, which the veteran claimed as vertigo. The condition was found to be related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an audiogram report and a VA examination to determine if the appellant's current left arm and hand disability is related to his October 1999 treatment at the Chillicothe VAMC.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and found that the veteran's current left ear hearing loss is related to his military service. The claim for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current condition is related to his combat exposure. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected skin condition of both feet and bilateral hearing loss were denied by the RO. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back problems in service contributed to his current low back disability, and therefore grants service connection for a low back disorder. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus to his military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which he claims was caused by exposure to tank fire during his duties in the Persian Gulf War. The case is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and a need for further examination.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for hearing loss, diabetic polyneuropathy of the legs, and surgical residuals of the right knee were denied. The Board found no evidence to support a finding that any current disabilities are related to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, both of which are considered to be due to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is causally related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was rated at no more than a 30 percent disability from February 2, 1999 to August 17, 2001. Beginning on August 18, 2001, the RO increased his rating to 30 percent and has not granted any higher evaluation.

The veteran's left ear hearing loss and degenerative joint disease of the knees were granted service connection, with a non-compensable rating for both conditions.