Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred during service due to acoustic trauma, but denied service connection for tinnitus as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service occurrence.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable evaluation and denied service connection for a right shoulder disability due to lack of current evidence.

The Board denied the petition to reopen the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted service connection for left ear hearing loss with a noncompensable rating, effective July 18, 2001. The decision did not address the issue of new and material evidence for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's current right eye and ear disabilities are related to his in-service injury in December 1944.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise with regard to whether the veteran has current hearing loss and tinnitus as a result of his active duty service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus is granted.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss effective from April 5, 2005. Prior to that date, the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was manifested by no more than Level V hearing in the right ear and Level XI hearing in the left ear.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service. The claim of reopening the right hand fracture was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for a lipoma under the left shoulder blade is pending as requested by the veteran.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that his puretone threshold average did not warrant such a rating based on VA audiological testing results.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the appellant currently has bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus that were incurred as a result of his active military duty. Service connection for tinnitus and a bilateral hearing loss disability is granted.

The VA has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the veteran's Level I hearing loss does not meet the schedular requirements for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, skin rash (claimed as affecting the hands and neck), rheumatoid arthritis (claimed as arthritis of the hands), and tinnitus due to lack of verified in-service stressors for PTSD, absence of medical evidence linking these conditions to service, and passage of time since discharge.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, knee disability, leg disability, and hip disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a current VA audiology examination and consideration of whether an extraschedular rating is warranted based on the veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and asbestosis are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice and the need for additional evidence, including a VA examination of the left ear. The issues on appeal are service connection for left ear hearing loss, increased rating for right ear otitis media, and a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.

The veteran's current hearing acuity does not constitute a disability for which service connection can be granted under applicable VA regulations.

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

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's current hearing loss is found to be related to his in-service exposure to noise trauma, warranting service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and COPD were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and thus denied both claims.