Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The VA has granted a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss effective November 3, 2007. Prior to that date, the veteran had no compensable rating.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not linked to service, including in-service noise exposure. As such, the claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for gout, mixed hearing loss in his right ear, and suppurative otitis media with perforation in his right ear.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus is being remanded due to insufficient information about his claimed stressors and the need for further examination.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The RO found that the veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss, as his current evaluation is already at the maximum schedular rating (10%). For tinnitus, he currently receives the highest schedular rating of 10%, which cannot be increased further under VA's rating schedule.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The veteran's claim for PTSD was denied due to lack of medical evidence diagnosing the condition.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, Alcohol Dependence, and Bilateral Hearing Loss. The veteran's reported combat-related stressors were considered verified, but the VA examiner found no evidence of current PTSD. Service connection was not granted as a matter of law due to alcohol dependence being presumed from his own willful misconduct.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's hearing impairment did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examination results.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, carcinoma of the colon, a skin condition, and PTSD. The denial was based on the absence of medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to noise exposure during his active service. Bilateral hearing loss was granted, while tinnitus was also granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss or PTSD, depression, or mixed adjustment disorder with depressed mood and anxiety that is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied due to insufficient evidence supporting his claimed stressors during active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, residuals of a low back injury, and bilateral knee condition. The decision also noted that the RO reviewed the claim on de novo basis after initially reviewing it as final.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and conducting an audiological examination.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee disorder or hearing loss that was incurred in service. The veteran's current conditions are not considered to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an initial compensable rating, as his audiometric results do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's disability evaluation schedule.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.