Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that her pre-existing left ear hearing loss did not worsen during service and that she did not have a current right ear hearing loss disability. The decision also noted that there was no evidence to support her assertion that her right ear hearing loss was caused by exposure to dental equipment or firearms training.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear was denied. His claims for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia and type II diabetes mellitus were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss, as he currently has level I hearing in both ears.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records from the Social Security Administration and clarification of his desire for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for impotence is denied. The Board finds that there is no evidence of a penis deformity, which is required for a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating criteria.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for an increased initial or staged rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as the current evaluation of 30 percent is considered adequate based on the audiological test results provided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and COPD are not related to his active duty service, with the exception of a possible genetic component for hearing loss. The VA examiners found no evidence of in-service noise exposure or other factors linking these conditions to service.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection of the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is service-connected, while his right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 40 percent for his low back disability, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus. The appeal concerning the higher evaluation claim was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right ear hearing loss are rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations. The Board found no legal basis for a higher rating, as there is no provision for separate ratings for bilateral tinnitus or for assigning a separate 10% rating for each ear of tinnitus. For his right ear hearing loss, the Veteran's non-compensable rating was upheld as he did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on the numeric designation assigned to his audiometric test results.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current low back disorder, right knee disorder, or left knee disorder that is related to his service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss must be denied by operation of law as there are no findings of a right ear hearing disability for VA compensation purposes.,By extending the benefit of doubt, the Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear sensorineural hearing loss is due to noise exposure during his period of active service.

The Veteran's claims for lumbar degenerative disc disease, neck pain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. Service connection was granted for a distorted left great toenail with an initial evaluation of 0 percent effective January 2006.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset during service, were not otherwise linked to his military service, and denied service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions did not originate during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions.