Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is not service-connected, as it did not manifest within one year of separation from service and there is no evidence linking it to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II or any other incident of service.

The Veteran's claims for congenital fusion of the right hand, left ear hearing loss, sinusitis with nasal septum disability, and hypertension are denied as there is no evidence of a superimposed injury or disease in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not etiologically related to his service-connected follicular carcinoma of the thyroid with resulting hypothyroidism, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. However, there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of tinnitus being related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, which was previously denied in 1993. The evidence now supports a finding that the Veteran's chronic bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss disability is related to his inservice combat noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The hearing loss claim was not addressed as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, while the other issues had insufficient evidence to determine their validity.

The Board denied initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus in June 1969, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not warrant such evaluations based on the applicable rating criteria at that time.

The Veteran's hearing loss is manifested by Level I hearing acuity in the right ear and Level VIII hearing acuity in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable evaluation. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the assignment of a compensable evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing acuity is manifested by no worse than level II hearing in the right ear, and level IV hearing in the left ear. The criteria for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as noncompensably disabling. The Board finds that the current noncompensable evaluation is appropriate and no higher evaluation is warranted at any point during the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and an initial, compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, a left lower lobe pulmonary nodule, and PTSD have been granted. The Veteran currently has symptoms of PTSD related to his military service, but there is no evidence of a current respiratory disability.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, facial skin blemishes, and a prostate disability; entitlement to an increased rating for epidermophytosis; and entitlement to a compensable rating for malaria. The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for audiometric testing and a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new hearing loss examination to assess the current level of his bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee is attributable to service and was granted service connection. The claims for anal fissures, hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for left knee/leg disorder, right knee/leg disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing a chronic condition during or within one year after service, as well as the absence of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection for hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is appropriate for tinnitus, as there are no legal grounds to award a higher rating.

The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to service and denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the reopening of a claim for service connection for hearing loss.