Hearing loss decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his period of active service and granted this claim. The Board also found no evidence linking the veteran's tinnitus to his military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for his left ear hearing loss, finding that his current level of hearing impairment did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, renal calculi, sinusitis with headaches, prostatitis, and varicose veins. The RO will also obtain any outstanding medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, sinusitis, and heart disease manifested by AV block. The claim for a higher rating for a deviated nasal septum was not granted, and the claim for an earlier effective date for gastroenteritis was also denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss and gunshot wound injuries.

The Board has granted a 30 percent initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, effective December 7, 2001. The veteran's claim is now remanded to consider whether a higher rating may be warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and adjudicating the issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss can be decided.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities and service connection for bilateral hearing loss were all granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.

The Board found that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin during or as a result of his military service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's left ear hearing loss was present at entry into service and did not increase in severity during his military service, thus denying service connection.

The veteran is requesting a compensable evaluation for his service-connected hearing loss of the right ear. The RO has requested additional evidence and will conduct a VA audiological examination to determine if an extraschedular evaluation is warranted.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right fibula fracture was granted, and he is now receiving a 10% disability evaluation effective from April 9, 2002. His claims for service connection for thrombocytosis and hearing loss were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 20 percent and 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not warrant such increased ratings.

The veteran's claims of entitlement to increased evaluations for limpomata, bilateral plantar calluses, and right ear hearing loss are dismissed due to failure to file timely substantive appeals.,The veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of zero percent disabling prior to August 2002 for limboma is dismissed due to failure to file a timely substantive appeal.,The veteran's claim of entitlement to increased evaluations for bilateral plantar calluses and right ear hearing loss are dismissed due to failure to file timely substantive appeals.,The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disorder is denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to active service or any other basis.,The veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are dismissed due to failure to file timely substantive appeals.,The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hiatal hernia and/or GERD is denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to active service or any other basis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for neck pain, headaches, memory loss, visual problems, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected skull fracture with concussion and cephalgia. The VA examinations did not find any current disabilities related to these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as new and material evidence was not submitted.