Hearing loss decisions — 2004

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the relationship between his current hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disorder with service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The right foot disability is rated at 10%.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, peptic ulcer disease, sinusitis, refractive error, arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, arthritis of the right knee, and arthritis of the left knee were denied. The decision is based on a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty service.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss of the right ear, finding no evidence linking these conditions to active duty. The claim for hearing loss of the left ear is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for perforated right eardrum and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of current disability resulting from service. The claim is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite of the ears and hearing loss, finding no new and material evidence to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as it is not earlier than December 10, 2002 when the veteran's application to reopen his claim was received.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a hearing examination and an opinion on employability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities, as well as his non-service-connected conditions. The RO previously granted a non-service-connected pension.

The Board has reviewed the evidence and determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for a back disability and hearing loss. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss in the right ear or left eye disorder related to service, and thus denied both issues of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disorder of the neck and denied service connection for a skin disorder of the feet, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension. Service connection was also granted for diabetes mellitus with an initial rating of 20 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's current hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically noise exposure during combat. As a result, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling of an audiometry examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his active duty service, and thus denied both claims.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's narcolepsy may be presumed to have been incurred in service. The other issues remain pending and will need further development.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination.