Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA records and scheduling examinations to address the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, while his low back disability and sleep disorder do not have a direct link to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a current disability due to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is manifested by average pure tone thresholds of 26.25 decibels in the right ear and 37.5 decibels in the left ear, with speech recognition ability of 96 percent correct for the right ear and 88 percent correct for the left ear. The VA rating schedule does not provide a compensable rating for this level of hearing loss.

The Veteran's request for an annual clothing allowance has been denied. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are the subject of a separate decision.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss, residuals of cold injuries to both feet, and tinnitus are not supported by evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service. The Board also noted a lack of continuity of symptomatology since separation from active duty.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted, but the RO assigned a noncompensable evaluation from March 24, 2005 to October 23, 2006 and a 10 percent evaluation as of October 24, 2006. The appeal is denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence showing that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as her audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the case back to the RO for initial review of the newly submitted evidence regarding service connection for peripheral vascular disease and right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 80 percent for psychomotor epilepsy is also granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The claims of service connection for skin disorder, neck disorder, diabetes mellitus Type II, bladder cancer, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), stomach disorder, bilateral leg disorder, and feet disorder have all been denied as there is no current evidence of a chronic condition in each case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current memory loss related to service, including in-service mercury exposure. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be causally related to his time in active duty service, and the claim has been granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted it. The claims for sleep apnea, chloracne, and erectile dysfunction have been denied.

The Veteran's hearing loss is found to be related to his World War II service, and he is granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a link between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability in service or at separation, and the VA examiner concluded that his current disabilities are less likely related to active duty noise exposure. His claim for an increased rating for left knee status post-arthroscopy was also denied.