Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right elbow, left elbow, right knee, hip, eye injuries, and hearing loss. The ratings for his right clavicle fracture residuals and right index finger injury were also not granted.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and the medical evidence did not establish a connection between current symptoms and in-service noise exposure. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The veteran's service-connected left eye retinal detachment is not productive of active pathology, and he has full vision. The VA examiner found no current impairment due to the service-connected condition.,There is no evidence of a hearing loss in service or within one year after discharge. No competent evidence established a nexus between any incident, accident, or injury occurring in service and the veteran's current hearing loss.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating, as his puretone thresholds do not meet the criteria for such under the applicable VA rating schedule.

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

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss and will proceed to consider the merits of the case.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in either ear and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. For left ear hearing loss, the Board determined there is no compensable evaluation based on the audiometric findings.

The VA determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied his claim.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss did not warrant a compensable rating, as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during his period of active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic bronchitis disabilities. The veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an opinion on whether hearing loss is related to service noise exposure. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The VA has determined that the veteran's hearing loss in his right ear does not warrant a compensable evaluation, and thus denied the claim for an initial compensable rating.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a higher evaluation than the current 10 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, scars and pain from shrapnel injury to bilateral legs, and bilateral hearing loss. The effective dates for these grants are April 23, 2001, February 10, 2003, and February 10, 2003 respectively.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral leg disability due to withdrawal by the veteran. The claim of entitlement to service connection for low back disability is denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability or in-service injury that would support such a finding.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated during service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran is likely as not to have sustained an unanticipated left ear tympanic membrane perforation due to treatment at a VA medical facility in 1992, and compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for this condition are granted.