Hearing loss decisions — 2004

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and assigned a noncompensable (0 percent) disability rating. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the appellant's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it did not manifest within one year of separation from active military service and was not related to any in-service injury or disease.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss from December 6, 2002, to a maximum of 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The effective date issue involving headaches was also addressed and is remanded.

The veteran's motion alleging clear and unmistakable error in a July 1972 Board decision denying an increased disability rating for his service-connected back disability has been dismissed without prejudice to re-filing.

The Board granted the veteran's claims for increased ratings and an effective date prior to February 8, 2001, for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his peripheral vascular disease of the right and left lower extremities. The veteran was also awarded a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disability. The veteran does not have current disabilities related to these issues.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in the current appeal and has therefore REMANDED the case to the RO for further action.

The veteran's tinnitus is rated at the highest available rating of 10 percent, and no higher rating is granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not incur bilateral hearing loss as a result of his military service.

The Board and RO have denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, heart condition, weakness of the left lower extremity with paresis, sensory deficit on the left side of his body, tinnitus, depressive disorder, headaches, and memory loss. The evidence submitted since previous decisions does not support reopening these claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service. The RO must obtain all available medical records, arrange for a VA examination, and provide the veteran with another opportunity to submit evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran currently has bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, both of which are service-connected based on direct evidence. The decision affirms the grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluation of mandible fracture residuals, service connection for head trauma including headaches and dizziness, bilateral elbow disorder, refractive error (hyperopia and presbyopia), and hearing loss. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in rating beyond 10 percent for the jaw disability or establish service connection for any of the other conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for stress and a nervous disorder, bilateral hearing loss, pre-existing anisometropia amblyopia of the right eye, and defective vision of the left eye. The evidence did not establish that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his period of service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board found that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, while his right and left knee disorders are not shown to be service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss in the left ear was aggravated by noise exposure during service, and they have ordered a VA examination to determine if his current tinnitus is related to service. The case will be remanded for further development.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's right ear hearing loss, currently rated noncompensable.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal due to the improvement of hearing aids.