Hearing loss decisions — 2004

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including heart disease with chest pains, prostate disorder, hearing loss, eye disorder, breast tumor, a disorder characterized by edema of the lower extremities, and beriberi with swollen feet. The evidence did not establish a causal link between these conditions and active service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to technical issues with the hearing recording, and a new hearing will be scheduled at the RO.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral high frequency neurosensory hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the denial of service connection for bilateral hearing loss in June 1980. The effective date for the award of service connection remains December 29, 1999.

The VA has determined that PTSD and hearing loss in the right ear do not warrant an increased rating or service connection, respectively.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current hearing loss as defined by VA standards and there is no competent evidence linking his skin disabilities to service. Therefore, the claims for both conditions are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, right ear hearing loss, and chronic dermatitis. The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, fatigue, sleeplessness, stomach conditions, loss of appetite, headaches, and memory loss, have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service or an undiagnosed illness. The Board finds that the veteran failed to provide sufficient information for VA to consider any potential claims based on exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or other presumptive illnesses.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to obtain medical records from the VA Orlando facility.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension.

The VA determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently manifested by Level I hearing impairment, which does not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and chronic otitis media, effective from July 25, 2003.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, currently evaluated as noncompensable. The RO has ordered additional development including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA audiometry examination.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as his puretone thresholds were within normal limits and he did not have any specific patterns of hearing impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss, as well as his claims for service connection for residuals of a right elbow injury and residuals of a right ankle injury.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for patello-femoral degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees, as well as a compensable rating for hearing loss of the left ear, were denied by the RO. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA regulations.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an increased rating as it is currently classified at Level II in the right ear and Level IV in the left ear, which corresponds to a noncompensable evaluation.

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

The Board has granted service connection for both chronic bilateral hearing loss disability and chronic bilateral tinnitus, finding that the veteran's inservice noise exposure contributed to these conditions.