Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board denied the claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of these conditions during service or within a reasonable time thereafter, and no competent medical evidence linking them to military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for a low back disorder, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, depression, and a bilateral elbow disorder as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, but denied increased ratings for the hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder was aggravated by his active service, while new and material evidence was provided to reopen a claim for bilateral hearing loss but not for tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated noncompensable prior to July 6, 2007, and a 20 percent rating was assigned from that date onward.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was remanded for a VA audiological examination to determine the nature and etiology of the condition.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was properly assigned a noncompensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 6100.

The Board grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the evidence supports a link to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent disabling for service-connected diabetes mellitus type II are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability as there was no evidence of a hearing loss during or within one year after service, and the current hearing loss was not related to noise exposure in service.

The June 1980 Board decision contained CUE in that it denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, but did not contain CUE in the denial of service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's claims seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for right and left foot disabilities, bilateral leg disability, and bilateral hearing loss. Tinnitus was found to be related to service, and the claim for a right knee disability was not reopened as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, a left foot disorder (flat foot), heel spurs, and right bundle branch block and left ventricular hypertrophy were denied as the evidence did not support the presence of current disabilities related to these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and hepatitis C.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD, insufficient information to corroborate any in-service stressors, and no competent medical evidence linking his hearing loss or tinnitus to military service.

The appeal for service connection for a right knee disorder, to include as secondary to a service-connected left knee disorder, was granted. The other issues remain pending further development.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a perforated right ear drum, hearing loss, pes planus, and a respiratory disorder are being remanded to obtain additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the legs, a low back disorder, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of current disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD were granted based on the evidence of record.