Hearing loss decisions — 2004

The veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, and his PTSD rating is increased to 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and requests for further searches.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling of VA examinations and readjudication of his increased evaluation claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and left perforated tympanic membrane as they were found to be rated appropriately under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, both found to be due to service. Service connection for rectal prolapse was denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it existed prior to service.

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 causally related to these conditions. The claim for arthritis was also denied as new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not begin during service and was not caused by any incident of service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. However, the effective date of service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability prior to October 15, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current hearing loss is related to his active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating.

The RO denied the veteran's claims for service connection and earlier effective date for tinnitus. The decision on service connection was final, while the earlier effective date claim is currently pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a higher initial disability evaluation, finding that new and material evidence could not serve as the basis for such a determination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of the veteran's Federal retirement and scheduling a VA audiological examination.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation of right foot pes planus and service connection for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The claim for a right knee disorder was not addressed due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear, left ear, and a rupture of the left eardrum. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these conditions as being related to his military service.

The veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which he claims is due to noise trauma from serving aboard the United States Ship Bennett during World War II. The case is being remanded for further examination and development.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board found that the veteran's cardiovascular disability, brain injury residuals, cervical spine disability, lumbosacral spine disability, bilateral shoulder and foot disabilities, chest pains, and hearing loss were not incurred in or related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.