Hearing loss decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and readjudication due to new evidence and compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board found no evidence of acoustic trauma during service and concluded that the current bilateral hearing loss is not related to military service, thus denying service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The highest schedular rating available for PTSD is 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no current evidence of active pulmonary tuberculosis or chronic arthritis. The hearing loss and vision issues were also denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for his hearing loss and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation at any time.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The appeal is granted in this regard.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The veteran was found not to meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for his hearing loss, and there is no evidence of unemployability or inability to obtain substantially gainful employment solely by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not warrant an initial compensable rating or a disability rating in excess of 10 percent, respectively. The claim for separate ratings for each ear was denied as VA policy and regulations require only one evaluation for bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and conflicting medical opinions regarding the appellant's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found no current disability related to the veteran's inservice head injury and concussion, thus denying service connection for residuals of a head injury with concussion manifested as memory loss.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and arthritis of the left hip. Based on all the evidence, it is concluded that these conditions began during his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for examinations to determine if the veteran currently suffers from a skin condition, hearing loss, or tinnitus. The claims will be adjudicated again based on the new evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's current hearing loss and right shoulder disability are not related to his service, thus denying these claims.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss in the right ear and did not address the issue of an initial compensable rating for hearing loss in the left ear. The veteran was provided with a statement of the case addressing the denial of the initial compensable rating for the left ear, but no substantive appeal has been filed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diverticulitis is not related to his service-connected duodenal ulcer disease. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, perforated right eardrum, and tinnitus are being remanded as they require further development including a VA examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma or chronic conditions within one year post-discharge.

The Board found no evidence to support a link between the veteran's current hearing loss, tinnitus, and severe headaches with his active service. The claims for service connection were denied.