Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and finds that it is more likely than not due to acoustical trauma during service. The veteran's TDIU claim was also granted.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, PTSD, and cold injury residuals of the lower extremities were denied. The highest disability rating assigned was I (Level I) for both ears in terms of hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The Board also found that the current diagnoses were not related to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not causally related to his military service, including exposure to noise during basic training.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left hearing loss, prostate cancer, and hypertension. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss under VA criteria, and that prostate cancer did not have onset during service or be related to service. Hypertension was also not shown to have been incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for back disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis C, and respiratory/lung disease (claimed as a residual of asbestos exposure) were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's mild left ear hearing loss at entry into service was not aggravated during active duty, and there is no evidence of an increase in severity. The current bilateral hearing loss is not related to in-service noise exposure.

The VA denied a claim for an increased (compensable) rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is due to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any current disabilities related to his service, and therefore, he is denied entitlement to service connection for multiple conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred in service, but his lung disorder could not be linked to his military service. The claim for reopening a previously denied eye condition claim is also considered 'mixed' due to new evidence being insufficient.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, finding that his symptoms were essentially reflective of no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no medical evidence establishing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, residuals of a head injury, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and a sleep disorder. The evidence did not support the presence of these conditions during or as a result of his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected vertigo does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent, as he is already receiving the maximum schedular evaluation for his condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service. The VA examiner found it unlikely that the disabilities were incurred in service.

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