Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board found no evidence of sleep apnea during active service and denied the claim for service connection. The hearing loss issue is pending due to a need for further examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board found that the appellant does not have degenerative disc disease, hearing loss, hypertension, or hypercholesterolemia related to service. The preponderance of evidence indicates these conditions were not incurred during active duty for training or inactive duty for training.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded his claim for service connection for tinnitus. The veteran is required to submit a timely VA Form 9 within 60 days of issuance of the SOC.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including left ankle fracture, left knee bursitis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, and degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder. The veteran's claims are not supported by evidence showing a direct link to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 20, 2004. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss as of September 20, 2004 was also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for tinea pedis, but the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and PTSD are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a higher disability rating based on current medical evidence, which shows his hearing impairment is currently rated at 10%.

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable initial evaluation, as it only results in Level II hearing impairment in the ear with the better hearing and Level III hearing impairment in the ear with the poorer hearing. The appeal is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The decision found no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for direct service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding that his current conditions were related to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and anxiety disorder and insomnia secondary to tinnitus due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability of the right ear due to service, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, an eye disability (claimed as poor eyesight), a back and hip disability (back pain), and a skin disorder due to Agent Orange exposure. The reasons include insufficient evidence of in-service stressors for PTSD and lack of verifiable events for other conditions.

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing loss does not warrant an increased rating, as it is currently rated at level I in both ears and no higher.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, a perforated right tympanic membrane, and tinnitus. The Board denied these claims as there was no competent medical evidence linking any current conditions to service.

The Board finds that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss is attributable to his exposure to loud noise during service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disability. The evidence did not support higher ratings, and there was no indication that the veteran could secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for any of the claimed disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, low back disability, and vision problems in the left eye.