Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not occur during service and is not related to any in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a skin condition, and service connection for PTSD were denied. The Board found that the veteran did not have hearing acuity worse than Level I in either ear, and his skin condition was not related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's current hearing loss in the left ear is related to service, including noise exposure. The case will be returned for further review.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure, with reasonable doubt resolving in favor of a finding of service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The RO had previously granted service connection and assigned a noncompensable evaluation in July 1998, which was increased to 10% effective June 27, 2000.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to determine if the veteran's current hearing loss is attributable to active service.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable due to their severity.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, which he claims was caused by acoustic trauma during his military service. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to substantiate the claim.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a rating in excess of 20% for bilateral hearing loss, and also seeks entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The case has been remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal audiometry at separation and no complaints or findings of hearing loss in service. The evidence does not support a finding that the current hearing loss began during service.

The Board denied service connection for a right ear hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, bilateral, hypertension, PTSD, residuals of a fragment wound of the dorsal spine with degenerative changes, residuals of a fragment wound of the left wrist with retained metallic foreign body, and diabetic retinopathy. The veteran's claims were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for hearing loss and for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound. The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The appellant withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection and increased evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service. The issue of reopening a claim for left ear hearing loss is pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The VA examiner concluded that the current hearing loss was not likely caused by military noise exposure, but the Board found additional development necessary due to conflicting evidence.

The Board denied an increased disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than those assigned.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss and determined that his preexisting hearing loss disability was permanently aggravated by service. The decision grants this claim.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum percentage requirements for a TDIU, and his disabilities are not shown to prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.