Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional examination and medical opinion are needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss effective January 19, 2006. The claim for service connection of the right hip disorder is reopened.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, entitlement to a compensable disability rating for residuals of a left ankle strain, entitlement to a compensable disability rating for residuals of a right knee strain, and entitlement to an increased disability rating for residuals of a right hamstring sprain with painful motion.

The veteran's claims for service connection, increased evaluations, and a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability were denied. The Board found that chronic bilateral hearing loss disability was not shown during active service or at any time thereafter, and the veteran's right lower extremity myopathy with muscle atrophy and weakness is rated 40 percent disabling under Diagnostic Codes 8010 and 8520.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The veteran was not granted any new evidence-based service connection, but his PTSD claim resulted in a 30% disability rating effective March 22, 2004.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of malaria, and residuals of mumps were denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing the presence or continuity of these conditions during or after his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's pre-existing hearing loss is not shown to have increased in severity beyond normal progression during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of his claimed conditions, including an inguinal hernia, right knee disability, low back disability, right hip disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine pre-existed service and was not aggravated by active duty, thus denying service connection. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is likely due to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a vertebra disability, left hip arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and acid reflux with precancerous lesions in the esophagus. The evidence did not support these claims as they were not related to service.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss. The case remains pending for the issue of service connection for sarcoidosis, which is addressed in a separate REMAND.

The veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded for further evaluation as they may be related to his service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as audiometric testing revealed level I hearing acuity in both ears. The claim for an initial increased rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss of the right ear and denied service connection for a left leg disability. Service connection is granted for hearing loss of the right ear due to in-service noise exposure, while no current evidence supports a left leg disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bilateral hearing loss as no new and material evidence was submitted, despite the submission of additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current migraine headaches and vertigo are not related to his military service. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently present but its etiology remains unclear.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the right great toe had its onset during active military service and is granted service connection. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it requires further examination to determine if there was aggravation in service.