Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his in-service acoustic trauma exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and low back disability were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service, and the time gap between any potential injury and diagnosis was too long to establish causation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no medical evidence linking the current hearing loss to his active military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for this disability.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a 10 percent disability rating, effective May 30, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or hypertension, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The claim for PTSD is being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been clinically shown to be manifested by no worse than Level III hearing in the right ear and Level II in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a compensable initial evaluation for his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his current bilateral hearing loss is related to service, including noise exposure. The Veteran's in-service hearing was normal and there is no medical evidence linking his current hearing loss to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that his TDIU claim is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter and is not related to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service and was first shown years post-service. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not resulted in a higher rating than the currently assigned 20 percent since his initial grant of service connection. The most recent audiometric testing did not show levels that would warrant an increased rating.

The VA has determined that the appellant does not have a hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and thus, service connection is denied. The claimant's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has received a withdrawal of the appeal from the appellant, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current disability that meets VA criteria for a hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The decision is based on direct service connection, as there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition or clear and unmistakable aggravation during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for his gunshot wound residuals were denied. The claim to reopen the bilateral hearing loss disability was also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be etiologically due to his military service, as evidenced by VA audiometric test results showing at least three auditory thresholds of 26 decibels or higher at designated frequencies and speech recognition scores less than 94 percent. Tinnitus was also found to be related to the Veteran's military service.