Hearing loss decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and post-operative residuals of thyroid cancer, finding no current diagnosis or link to service.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for various conditions, including headaches and tinnitus as residuals of a spinal tap, loss of visual acuity, psychiatric disorder, disability of the back and legs, and hearing loss. The evidence submitted was deemed insufficient to reopen these claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of April 23, 2001 for service connection of hearing loss is granted. The original denial in February 1988 was final and a new claim to reopen was filed on August 31, 1990.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the appellant and a need for further examination. The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and comply with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The RO found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his previously denied gastrointestinal disability claim, and the denial of hepatitis was final.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a ligament strain of the left leg (claimed as shin splints) was denied. His claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied, but his claim for service connection for postoperative residuals of an anterior cruciate ligament repair of the left knee was granted with a 20% evaluation effective October 1, 2000.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred as a result of her active military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.

The Board found that the veteran's postoperative residuals of a perforated tympanic membrane and cholesteatoma of the right ear began during service, warranting service connection. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further review.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, earaches, back disorder, fatigue, memory loss, joint pain, nervousness and dreams, weakness, skin rashes, chest pain, blurred vision, neck stiffness, and sinus symptoms as manifestations of an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss of the right ear and PTSD, but denied service connection for other conditions. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is set at October 31, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a psychiatric nervous condition secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for arteriosclerosis, bilateral hearing loss, and hemorrhoids.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss began during his active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to assess various disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma or other causative events.

The Board found no current disabilities for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as there were no medical findings showing these conditions. The claim was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss did not meet the schedular criteria for a compensable rating, and thus denied his claim.