Hearing loss decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to his military noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's neck injury residuals and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss are not related to active duty service, thus denying both claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully evaluate the veteran's claims for service connection. The RO will seek missing service medical records, obtain relevant private treatment records, and schedule a VA examination.

The Board granted the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but assigned a non-compensable evaluation. The veteran did not have puretone thresholds of 55 decibels or more at each of the 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hertz frequencies for either ear.

The veteran is entitled to an effective date of March 5, 1996 for the grant of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for his disabilities resulting from a VA surgery in 1996.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no persuasive medical evidence linking his current hearing loss to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to inadequate examination and incomplete development of the record.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left shoulder disability and a noncompensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA regulations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete service records and the need for additional VA medical records. The issues of bilateral hearing loss service connection and non-service-connected disability pension benefits are also being addressed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear and maintained his initial compensable rating for hearing loss of the left ear.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements set out in 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The case is remanded to determine if the veteran should receive a separate rating for diplopia and to refer it to the Compensation and Pension Director under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) for further consideration.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered in light of any additional evidence.

The Board has decided the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a higher initial rating for hemorrhoids. The veteran does not have current hearing loss, and her hemorrhoids are currently rated as 0 percent disabling based on their mild to moderate nature. The remaining issues must be remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete evidence and legal errors in previous decisions. The appellant's service connection claims for a back disorder and bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered after obtaining additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any hearing loss and head injury residuals.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine if the veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to in-service events, and whether it is congenital or developmental.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating based on current medical evidence.

The veteran's initial evaluations for diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral hearing loss were denied as his conditions do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted, allowing the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss to be reopened. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.