Hearing loss decisions — 2004

The veteran's claims for service connection and an initial compensable rating for his hearing loss conditions are being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a 10 percent initial rating effective prior to April 17, 2003, and a 40 percent disability rating effective as of April 17, 2003 and prior to April 29, 2004. As of and subsequent to April 29, 2004, the veteran is entitled to a 50 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's active duty for training was a factor in developing these conditions. The effective date is not specified.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for anal fissure with sphincterotomy (30 percent) and left renal calculus (10 percent), effective from April 1998. The claim for a compensable rating for first-degree AV block is denied, as it does not meet the criteria under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or due to active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied a request for an effective date prior to February 25, 2000 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The veteran's claim was determined to have been filed on or after that date.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the veteran's medical records and ensure compliance with duty-to-assist requirements.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder. The veteran's application was not supported by new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's TDIU claim must be remanded due to the need for further medical evaluation and consideration of his service-connected disabilities, including a left knee condition. The RO is instructed to obtain all relevant VA treatment records and schedule the veteran for an appropriate examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus granted service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss did not occur during service or due to any incident of service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no legal basis to grant such an earlier date.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, tinnitus, residuals of a medial meniscectomy of the right knee, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee are all rated at their maximum levels. The effective date for his total rating by reason of individual unemployability is March 9, 2000.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but further development is needed before addressing their merits.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the loss of hearing from a previous hearing and his request for another hearing.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board. The Board found no evidence of chronic conditions or injuries during service, and there was insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between any current disabilities and military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence supports a reopening of these claims. The Board also found that both conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or current disability. The claims for service connection were denied.