Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss disability due to new evidence. The decision on diabetes mellitus remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of left ear hearing loss for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a more thorough VA examination, as the current one is not adequate for VA purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, with doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. Therefore, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus must be remanded due to inadequate VA examination, and further development is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss for VA compensation purposes and his tinnitus is not related to service. The claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, plantar fasciitis, left ankle condition, left wrist condition, morphea scleroderma, sinus condition, and eye condition are denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred in service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically noise exposure while working in engine rooms aboard ships.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and sinus disability due to lack of a current disability meeting VA criteria. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing onset or causation in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is of service origin and grants service connection for this condition.

The evidence does not show that the Veteran's currently manifested bilateral hearing loss is related to his period of active military service, including presumptively.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% disabling, and his other service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a hearing loss disability in service or within one year post-service. The weight of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds that this level of disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable schedular evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is due to noise exposure during service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left arm disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development including medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for various service connection issues was remanded, and the RO is now denying his claims for increased ratings. The evidence does not support a compensable rating for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss for VA compensation purposes and finds service connection for left ear hearing loss is warranted. The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis of the feet is currently manifested by itching, bleeding, and flaking skin but does not cover 20 to 40 percent of the entire body or exposure areas.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and ankle sprain residuals have been denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities related to his military service.