Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to hazardous noise during active duty.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and basic eligibility for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits due to lack of evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, effective January 24, 2001.

The veteran's major depression is rated at 70 percent, his left knee disability at 10 percent, and his bilateral hearing loss remains noncompensable. The total unemployability claim is granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions and that they are not related to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and scar tissue (adhesions) of the peritoneum, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by an average pure tone threshold of 40 decibels in the right ear and 45 decibels in the left ear, with speech recognition ability of 96 percent in both ears. The Board found that these findings do not warrant a compensable disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and flat feet (pes planus), finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, and thus the claims were not reopened.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset in service and was not related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence and outstanding treatment records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, and thus denied his claim.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including malaria, rheumatism/arthritis, PTB, malnutrition, an eye disorder, hearing loss, and a kidney disorder. The veteran did not submit sufficient medical evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus were both granted by the Board. The veteran was found to have a clear history of hearing impairment due to exposure to acoustic trauma during service, which is now considered direct service connection. His tinnitus is also considered service connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Meniere's disease, hearing loss, and tinnitus are not service-connected as they were not present during or within one year after his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and review of his claims, including service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as an initial rating for right eye glaucoma.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his left tympanic membrane perforation, finding that the only schedular rating provided by the rating schedule is noncompensable and there are no legal bases for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for recurrent left shoulder strain and denied the veteran's claims for right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disability, and cervical spine disability.

The Board found that the veteran does not have diabetes mellitus, type II and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The effective date remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, or heart disease as claimed. The evidence does not support service connection for these conditions.