Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted, with the Board finding that his currently demonstrated tinnitus was due to service. The claim for an increased rating for hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected hypertensive blood pressure from August 28, 2002 to May 18, 2003. The claim for an increased initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his right ear hearing loss, finding that his audiometric test results corresponded to numeric designations no worse than Level III in each ear.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left bundle branch block, defective vision, tinnitus, vertigo, and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss to the RO for further development.

The veteran has withdrawn their appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected unilateral hearing loss of the right ear, citing that the evidence did not show an improvement in his condition since the last examination.

The Board found no evidence of a right arm disability incurred or aggravated during service, and concluded that the veteran's pre-existing right arm nevus was not aggravated by service. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also denied as there is insufficient medical evidence to support their occurrence in service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss does not meet the regulatory requirements for establishing a 'disability' at the time of separation from service.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current hearing loss disability in either ear or a back disability, and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a compensable rating prior to January 8, 2005 and a rating in excess of 20 percent from that date. The medical evidence did not support these higher ratings.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, as the evidence shows that he had a mastoid operation in service and his current hearing loss may be related to this event.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, disciform maculopathy, degenerative joint disease of the hands, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine. The claim for irritable bowel syndrome was also denied as it is not due to or proximately caused by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not warrant a higher rating, as they are currently rated at 10 percent each under Diagnostic Code 6100.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating based on VA audiological examination findings.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's burn scars of the left hand were also denied an increased rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence was submitted. The claim for right ear hearing loss is granted as it had its onset during service. The claim for tinnitus is not granted as there is no evidence linking it to service. The rating for shrapnel wound scar on mandible with retained foreign body remains at 10 percent, and the veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids are rated noncompensably disabling.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and wrist disabilities, finding that he was not entitled to a compensable rating for his hearing loss or an increased rating for his wrist disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, and thus denied his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and an initial noncompensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's current hearing loss is manifested by Level II hearing in the right ear and Level I hearing in the left ear.