Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD, make him unemployable and the Board finds in favor of his TDIU claim.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence presented since the final denial supports these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus, and there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service. Therefore, both claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a ruptured left eardrum, or jungle rot to his period of active service. As such, the claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise and grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability meets the criteria for a 10 percent disability evaluation, which is granted.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability has been denied. The RO reduced the rating for bilateral hearing loss to noncompensable effective January 1, 2002, based on sustained improvement in his hearing impairment. For the low back disability, there is insufficient evidence from recent VA examinations to determine if a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease was made or if neurological examination results were provided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss are attributable to service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

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. However, the claims are denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinea pedis, left foot; swelling of feet; and a compensable evaluation for hearing loss, right ear. The evidence did not support these claims as there was no current diagnosis of any condition in question, and none were found to be related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that current right ear hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The claim for hyperhidrosis was not adjudicated as a new claim, leading to denial with no effective date assigned.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent, as his hearing acuity is at least at Level VI in the better ear and Level X in the poorer ear. The preponderance of evidence does not support an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not warrant higher initial ratings, as his audiometric test results did not meet criteria for a compensable rating for hearing loss or a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no persuasive medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and initial compensable disability rating for chronic mastoiditis of the left ear.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating in excess of 0 percent for the time period from June 7, 2001 to August 31, 2005 and does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for the time period from September 1, 2005 to present.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current stomach disorder is related to his service, while his bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service.