Hearing loss decisions — 2004

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that a well-grounded claim had not been submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his condition did not meet VA criteria for compensation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and extent of any back disorder and hearing loss with tinnitus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, a low back condition, and a personality disorder with paranoid features (emotional problems) due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service and granted his claim. The decision on basal cell carcinoma remains pending as it requires further medical review.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a VA audiological examination and obtaining additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected due to in-service noise exposure. The claim for asbestosis is remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence and incomplete notification.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities for which service connection can be granted, including a back disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for right ear otitis media, tinnitus, and hearing loss as they did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA's rating schedule.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause his death, and no other condition was shown to have contributed substantially or materially to his death. The cause of death listed on his certificate was acute myocardial infarction due to coronary artery disease.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the inaudibility of his Travel Board hearing recording, and he has requested another hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the new hearing.

The veteran is seeking a higher evaluation for his service-connected hearing loss of the right ear. The Board has determined that additional development, including scheduling a VA audiological examination and obtaining SSA records, is necessary before this claim can be decided.

The Board found that the veteran's right ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service.

The veteran's disabilities do not result in the need for regular personal assistance or protection from daily hazards, thus he is not entitled to special monthly pension benefits based on aid and attendance.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of hypertension and left ear hearing loss disability, as well as his service connection claims for heart disease, tinnitus, PTSD, and sinusitis. The RO found that there was no current evidence of a compensable level of hearing loss or a diagnosis of heart disease, PTSD, or sinusitis in service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right ear mastoidectomy residuals were denied as the evidence did not warrant an evaluation in excess of the currently assigned noncompensable ratings.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to acoustic trauma and determined that it was incurred in service. The evidence shows a history of exposure to loud noise during military service, which is considered sufficient to establish service connection.