Hearing loss decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, leaving only the lower back injury issue in appellate status.

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 his service personnel records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service and grants this claim. The claim for tinnitus was denied as there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to changes in evidentiary record, including new audiologic test results and medical records indicating a possible worsening of appellant's bilateral hearing loss.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and residuals of hemorrhoidectomy, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depression, had its onset during his period of active service. The hearing loss disability claim is considered to be without a clear basis in service records and thus remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for a VA examination. The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being considered.

The veteran is granted increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, vertigo (Meniere's Syndrome), and tinnitus.,Effective September 23, 2003, the veteran has been rated at 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss. Effective August 30, 2002, he was rated at 10 percent for vertigo and 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing impairment was not incurred in or as a result of his active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is of service origin and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining supplemental reports from his private audiologists and arranging for a VA audiology examination. The case will be readjudicated after the additional evidence is considered.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss in the right ear, concluding that there was no evidence of a disease or injury incurred during service and no aggravation by service.

The veteran seeks service connection for hearing loss, which he claims is due to noise exposure during his active military service in Vietnam. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a decision can be made.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right ear hearing loss, as it did not meet the schedular criteria.

The VA denied an increased rating for hemorrhoids and hearing loss, as well as not reopening the tinnitus claim or granting service connection for a foot disability.

The Board has granted service connection for post-operative lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with laminectomy residuals, finding that the veteran's current condition is related to his inservice trauma. The issues of service connection for chronic hearing loss disability, a chronic shoulder disorder, and a chronic hip disorder are remanded for further development.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for the residuals of a back injury, and service connection for the residuals of a concussion were denied. The claim for an increased rating for the residuals of a shrapnel wound to the left knee and left elbow was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or continuity of symptomatology. The veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to deficiencies in VCAA notice and the need for additional development, including a VA examination for bilateral hearing loss.