Hearing loss decisions — 2004

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and arranging for a VA audiologist examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's current disability is likely due to his active military service. The other issues on appeal are addressed in the REMAND portion of this document and will be remanded to the RO.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to noise exposure during his military service and denied his claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the claims of entitlement to service connection for shrapnel wound to the back, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a cold weather injury, and PTSD. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disorder, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asbestosis, is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions of hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and alcoholism are not service-connected. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

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

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a hearing loss disability and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, pes planus, vertigo, and tinnitus were denied. The effective dates of service connection for these conditions are also not established.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a 60 percent rating, effective November 17, 1997, to March 28, 2000.

The veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, rated at 60% combined, are found to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment due to his limited education and industrial background.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches, photophobia, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) due to additional development being required. The veteran's service records do not provide sufficient information on these conditions' etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further evaluation of the veteran's hearing loss, including a current audiological examination.

The RO denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted. The decision is considered final as of March 1995.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The veteran's request for a videoconference hearing has been acknowledged, and the case is being remanded to the RO for scheduling such a hearing. The veteran will not need to take any further action unless notified otherwise.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous VA audiological examination and review of his claims file.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, a sinus disorder, and a low back disorder. The decision concluded that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active duty.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss in service or within one year thereafter, and the veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is not related to his military service. The claim for tinnitus was granted as reasonable doubt favored the veteran.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there are no longer any issues of fact or law for resolution by the Board due to the RO's decision granting service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss.

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