Hearing loss decisions — 2004

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining recent audiometric test reports from a VA facility and scheduling him for an examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has granted a 50% rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 20, 1998 and denied any higher rating on or after that date.

The veteran's bilateral defective hearing is not service-connected.,Chronic tinnitus and vertigo are not service-connected.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding no competent evidence of these conditions. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30% for bipolar disorder remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are granted, with some issues receiving a noncompensable evaluation and others receiving compensable evaluations.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA disability compensation regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for new evidence.

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

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum evaluation available. The RO granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, with a 10 percent rating each effective from November 14, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and granted noncompensable ratings for burn scars on the right arm, right elbow bursitis, and syringomyelia. The veteran was not granted increased ratings for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to failure to provide proper VCAA notice.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset during active service or within any prescribed presumptive period and was not linked to disease or injury in service. The examiner stated that the veteran’s hearing loss was more likely related to post-service noise exposure.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right ear hearing loss and residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right shoulder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected hearing loss of the right ear does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

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

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including obtaining relevant medical records from his VA treatment facility in Bay Pines, Florida.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and aortic valve deficiency. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during active service, granting his claims for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of clear and unmistakable error in a previous rating decision, and the claim was not filed before August 8, 2001.