Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right knee disability, but denied the claim for an initial compensable rating for residuals of left little finger injury.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and exotropia of the left eye are related to service, while his bilateral myopia is not. The veteran was granted service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a total disability rating for individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his active duty. The VA examiner concluded that the veteran's sensorineural hearing loss was less likely than not related to his earlier incidents of perforated tympanic membranes during service.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the appellant currently has bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus that were incurred during his active military service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for an increased rating for post-operative residuals of left shoulder subluxation. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding that the veteran's current hearing loss or tinnitus were incurred in service. For the shoulder disability, the Board noted that while the veteran had pain and stiffness, he did not have instability, giving away, fatigue, weakness, heat, or redness, and his symptoms were rated as 30 percent disabling based on limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during service or within one year post-service. The medical opinions provided are against these claims.

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 presumptive provisions for service connection did not apply due to lack of medical evidence showing a relationship between current disabilities and military service.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss or tinnitus during service and denied the veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

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

The Board found no competent medical evidence of current bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a rating of 10 percent from March 3, 2003 to December 22, 2004. After this period, his hearing loss is rated as zero percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no competent medical evidence of a current disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an increased disability rating beyond the currently assigned noncompensable (zero percent) rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA medical examination and issuance of a Statement of the Case addressing his claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for tinnitus. His claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss will also be remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding no medical evidence establishing a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for alcoholism, hypertension, smoking (status post throat biopsy), diabetes mellitus Type II, and high cholesterol. The decision also granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss with a 0 percent evaluation.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no legal basis for a schedular evaluation in excess of the current ratings.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during his military service. The appeal seeking service connection for a left ankle disability was withdrawn by the veteran.