Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The veteran's left ear hearing loss is not considered to have worsened during service, and thus service connection cannot be granted. For tinnitus, there is no current diagnosis attributable to active service.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar spine disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection. The hearing loss in the right ear was also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and denied his claim.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not present within one year of his discharge from service and is not etiologically related to service. The Board has determined that the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied the other claims due to lack of evidence or conflicting theories.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no current evidence of these disabilities and concluding that they were not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty, and its incurrence or aggravation during active duty may not be presumed. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated in service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and adjudication of increased rating claims for hearing loss and tinnitus. The examiner will assess whether his PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent, and no higher rating is warranted. The veteran's hearing loss with tympanoplasty remains noncompensable. The veteran's dysthymic disorder continues to be rated at 30 percent. The veteran's post-concussion headaches remain rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's current lung disorder was not present until many years after service and is not related to active duty service or any incident therein. The RO also denied service connection for hearing loss of the right ear, but granted service connection for hearing loss of the left ear with a 10 percent initial disability rating.

The VA has determined that the appellant's left ear hearing loss disability is currently rated as 0 percent disabling, and no higher rating is warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and a higher rating for his seizure disability. The evidence did not establish a medical nexus between any in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss, nor was there competent evidence of a relationship between any in-service seizures and current seizure disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an increased rating for degenerative disc disease, and a compensable disability rating for bilateral high frequency hearing loss. The veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD. His service-connected degenerative disc disease is productive of pain on palpation and limitation of motion with no neurological deficits, abnormal lordosis, or kyphosis. His service-connected bilateral high frequency hearing loss results in level II hearing acuity in both ears.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is related to the veteran's military service due to acoustic trauma.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss in his left ear, finding no evidence of a chronic condition during or since service. However, it granted service connection for hearing loss in his right ear due to aggravation by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of hearing loss during active duty and insufficient medical nexus to link current hearing loss to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after service. The VA examinations did not provide a clear opinion on whether these conditions were caused by noise exposure in service.