Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board has granted a TDIU rating effective from August 20, 2004.

The veteran's service connection claims for chronic bilateral hearing loss disability and PTSD have been granted. The veteran is currently receiving a 30 percent evaluation for his PTSD, effective July 28, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD, service connection for a left knee disability, service connection for a head and neck injury, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examiner concluded that it was less likely than not that the veteran's current hearing loss and occasional tinnitus are related to noise exposure during service from 1945 to 1948.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and chronic left knee disability. The claim for reopening of a previously denied left ear hearing loss was also denied.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or disability of the hands and feet due to cold injury that is attributable to service. The veteran's claims for these conditions were denied.

The veteran's PTSD was granted service connection based on a personal assault during active duty. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus is remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma during his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss of the right ear and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, including exposure to noise. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and established that it is related to his military service. The appeal is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are the result of noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right hand disability, and right knee disability. The claim of reopening a PTSD claim was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated during his active duty for training, and the Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against entitlement to service connection.

The VA granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but assigned a noncompensable (zero percent) disability rating, based on the January 2007 VA audiological examination results.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to higher initial evaluations for left ear hearing loss and service connection for bilateral loss of visual acuity as a residual of eye injury, and pes planus. The RO previously granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but assigned a noncompensable evaluation.

The veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or a positive nexus to service.,The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right foot disabilities were also denied, with the Board finding that the current evaluations are adequate based on the medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss disability is not related to his active military service and denied service connection for this condition. The scars from tattoo removal on the left upper arm were found to be incurred during active military service.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes, and therefore denied his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of available service treatment records and an opportunity for further examination.