Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as an increased evaluation for his right ankle disability, were denied. The VA granted service connection for post traumatic stress disorder but assigned a lower rating than requested.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that his hearing impairment did not warrant a higher rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his TDIU, finding that no evidence supported a prior effective date due to lack of timely submission of claims and unemployability during the year before November 28, 1997.

The VA determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and nonspecific dermatitis. The case is now remanded for additional medical examinations and consideration.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and granted it. The issues of an initial compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss disability and increased rating for low back disability are addressed in the remand section.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to service-connected PTSD, and the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and pes planus with bilateral foot strain have been granted. The remaining issues on appeal are addressed in the decision summary.

The Board has granted service connection for traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service injuries. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded due to VCAA notification issues.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's Meniere's disease, hearing loss, and vertigo and any in-service disease or injury. The disability did not begin during service or within one year thereafter.

The veteran's appeal is about the evaluation of his service-connected Meniere's disease with vertigo, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The RO must ensure that all VCAA notice obligations have been satisfied and provide a full year for response before remanding the case to the RO for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as these conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board will now consider whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking his current hearing loss to his military service.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they were incurred during his active duty.,The veteran's ear fungus was not present during service or for many years thereafter, and it is not linked to any incident of service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to increased initial disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hemorrhoids, as well as his claim for service connection for a right foot injury. The veteran's current conditions are rated at 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss since May 2, 2001.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. His hearing loss claim was granted, but not to a higher rating. Service connection for arthritis and PTSD was also denied. Increased ratings of 30% each were granted for his cold injury foot disabilities.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including requesting additional evidence from the Center for Research of Unit Records and contacting the Army Reference Branch. The veteran is also to be scheduled for an audiological examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of filariasis, right spermatic cord and lymphangitis of the left arm, hearing loss in the left ear, and bilateral tinnitus as there is no competent evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's current evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss does not adequately reflect its severity, but found no evidence to warrant a compensable rating.