Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss. The case is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss warrants a 10 percent evaluation, as his puretone thresholds and speech recognition scores do not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and otitis externa.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a disability as defined by VA regulations, and thus denied service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in both ears and an initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss, finding no evidence of a nexus between current hearing loss and military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are presumed to have been incurred during his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA). The VA examiner opined that it was at least as likely as not that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability and no in-service injury or disease.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as it is currently rated at noncompensable level.

The veteran's service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease, PTSD, and current conditions of dyshidrotic dermatitis of the hands and acne vulgaris are all granted. However, his right ear hearing loss remains noncompensable.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral high frequency hearing loss, thus denying the reopening of the claim.

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

The Board found no evidence of in-service hearing loss or any other claimed conditions, and denied the claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a prior claim filed before June 11, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are attributable to injury during service, including eardrum perforation and noise exposure. As such, these conditions have been granted as incurred in service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss from July 30, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred during active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board found that the veteran's post-service bilateral hearing loss is not due to any incident or event of active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence showing current hearing impairment. The claim is granted as the evidence supports a finding that the veteran's current hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, substance abuse secondary to PTSD, and tinnitus. The claims of new and material evidence for hearing loss and back injury have also been granted. Increased ratings for scarring and left varicocele are denied, but a TDIU is granted.