Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or unbalance that is related to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, while his PTSD is not supported by evidence of a diagnosis or occurrence during service. The veteran was exposed to noise from large caliber gunfire in both his Navy and National Guard service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a higher than 10 percent rating for service-connected bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has granted an initial compensable evaluation of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, effective from August 28, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and post traumatic stress disorder are denied as there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss with otosclerosis does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran is already receiving the maximum disability rating legally available for tinnitus under the applicable rating criteria. Therefore, his claim for separate 10 percent ratings for each ear for his service-connected tinnitus must be denied.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence showing an increase in severity during a period of active duty for training.

The Board has denied reopening the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has denied the claim for service connection for an eye disorder. The evidence received since the September 2002 rating decision does not include medical evidence supporting a relationship between current hearing loss or any current eye disorder, including glaucoma that was diagnosed in 2003, to events during service.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to questions regarding whether the veteran currently has a hearing loss disability and if such disability existed during service. The veteran should be scheduled for a VA audio examination.

The Board determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as no evidence showed sensorineural hearing loss in service or within one year post-service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities related to her service, including bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, headaches, residuals of a knot (growth) in the jaw, and anemia. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found no current diagnosis of PTSD and denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least partly due to his in-service noise exposure with an artillery unit, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and several skin disorders. The appeals were reopened on new evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for right ear hearing loss is remanded.