Hearing loss decisions — 2004

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's hearing loss or psychiatric disorder to his military service, and denied both claims.

The RO denied the veteran's applications to reopen his claims of service connection for back and hearing loss disabilities, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability of the right ear and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, effective as of the date of the decision.

The veteran's appeals regarding service connection for low back condition, ulcers, and Agent Orange residuals were dismissed due to the failure to file timely substantive appeals. The claims for hepatitis B and C, hearing loss, and PTSD have been reinstated.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tonsillitis/strep throat, and chronic right ear infections. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable evaluation are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, low back pain, hearing loss, and residuals of exposure to Agent Orange (including seizure disorder and heart disorders).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral chronic otitis media with perforated membranes as these conditions are already at their maximum schedular rating.

The Board has granted service connection for neurofibromatosis with associated acoustic neuromas. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is reopened, but the issue remains pending as it was not decided in this decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right eye disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for left eye corneal abrasion was also denied as there is no clinical evidence of any residual disability from an acute injury in service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for bipolar disorder is not granted, and the veteran's rating for this condition remains at 30 percent. The veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to his symptoms being within the range considered 'stable' by VA psychiatrists.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of these conditions being incurred in or aggravated by military service. The claim for PTSD is pending and remanded to the RO.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a final decision.

The Board has granted the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the underlying issue of whether new and material evidence was received remains under review. The RO will arrange for a VA examination to determine if there is a medical relationship between the veteran's current hearing loss disability and any incident in service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are found to be disabling enough for a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for meningitis and hearing loss secondary to meningitis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an opinion regarding the progression of his tonsillitis in service.

The VA denied a compensable disability rating for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that his condition did not meet the criteria under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The low back disability, including degenerative changes or arthritis, was also not incurred in or aggravated by service.