Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a seizure disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and mechanical low back strain. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral eye disability due to lack of evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus related to service, and his left shoulder and back disabilities are not shown to be due to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the left mastoid area are rated at 10 percent, and his bilateral hearing loss is currently noncompensable. The Board found that there was no evidence of moderately severe impairment or any other factors warranting higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding service connection and aggravation of hearing loss and right ankle conditions.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C was denied as he does not have the disease. Service connection for PTSD prior to June 17, 2004 is granted at a 50% rating, but no higher. The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to that date was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, narcolepsy, a left hand disorder, residuals of a head injury, and Parkinson's disease. The Board found that there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are directly related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical examination and lack of consideration of lay statements supporting the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder were denied as the preponderance of evidence did not support service connection.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a disability manifested by blisters on hands and feet were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to service or secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and bilateral hearing loss, as both claims were previously denied on the merits.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated as Level III in both ears, resulting in a non-compensable evaluation. The Board found that the evidence does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric results did not warrant a rating in excess of 60 percent from November 7, 2005 to April 26, 2009 and 80 percent from April 27, 2009.

The Board found no evidence of aggravation of the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss during service and concluded that any current hearing loss is not related to service. For tinnitus, the VA examiner opined that it was less likely than not caused or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA standards, and therefore service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service combat-related acoustic trauma, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and coronary artery disease were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims.