Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his service exposure to noise, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for PTSD, leishmaniasis, and bilateral hearing loss was denied. The VA found that the current disability ratings were appropriate based on the audiometric findings.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss related to his period of active military service, including acoustic trauma sustained therein. The evidence did not show that he currently suffers from a bilateral hearing impairment as defined by VA regulation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a shoulder disorder and hearing loss. The claims were previously denied in August 2002 and March 2005, respectively, due to lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is incurred in service, but his bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a current disability.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was granted service connection as it is considered a chronic disease. However, the right ear hearing loss did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of in-service noise exposure and no evidence of continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. The hearing loss claim, however, did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The VA determined that the appellant's claims for service connection were denied, and his hearing disability was evaluated as noncompensably disabling.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating authorized under VA regulations. The RO has determined that a higher evaluation is not warranted due to lack of an exceptional or unusual disability picture.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lipomas, bilateral hearing loss, and knee disabilities were denied. The Veteran was granted compensable ratings for scars from March 2, 2009 onwards, but not before that date. Ratings in excess of the current ones were denied for right and left knee osteoarthritis as well as laxity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus between current disabilities and service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support these claims.

The Veteran's pes planus was aggravated by service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The claims of hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are causally related to his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma, resulting in service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, finding that there is sufficient evidence to link his current hearing loss disability to noise exposure during active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability had its onset in service and is related to his in-service noise exposure. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a video conference hearing at the RO for issues related to service connection for multiple sclerosis, an undiagnosed illness, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his current hearing loss is related to service.

The Board found no evidence of a current hearing loss disability for VA benefit purposes and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and compensable ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher evaluations for hearing loss, tinnitus, malaria, or tonsillitis.