Hearing loss decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that there is new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss. The appellant's current left ear hearing loss disability is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, thus finding service connection.

The VA has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and assigned a 40% rating, effective from May 3, 2002. The veteran's claim was not previously denied or reopened.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right knee and leg injuries were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and psychiatric disorder. The decision found no causal relationship between the veteran's military service and his current disabilities.

The Board found new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but not enough to establish a positive link between the condition and military service. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and review, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a VA audiologist examination.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine whether the veteran's hearing loss was incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service, and if so, during which period of service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear was denied. His claims for increased ratings for prostatitis, right knee chondromalacia, and left knee chondromalacia were also denied.

The VA determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The VA examiner concluded that the veteran's current hearing impairment is more likely due to age-related changes rather than noise exposure in service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and psychiatric disability, finding no current disabilities that could be characterized as such.

The Board found that the veteran's current hearing difficulties cannot be attributed to injury or disease during active military service, and sensorineural hearing loss was not shown to have been diagnosed or otherwise manifested during the one-year period following his separation from service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The RO granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 10 percent disability rating effective April 22, 2002. The veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder was denied as there is no medical evidence establishing the presence of such a condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's disease with hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's varicose veins of the right and left legs are rated at 30% each, his seizure disorder is rated as noncompensably disabling (10%), and his weak left knee disorder is rated at 10%. His bilateral hearing loss remains noncompensably disabling.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The highest schedular disability rating provided for tinnitus is 10 percent, which the veteran is already receiving.

The Board found that there is no medical evidence linking the cause of the veteran's death to any service-connected disability or his period of active duty service. The appellant's personal opinion was not considered competent evidence for this purpose.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a head injury are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development.