Hearing loss decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA audiology evaluation.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence submitted since the last denial. The case is now remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records from Butler VA Medical Center and Swannanoa Division VA Medical Center, scheduling a VA examination, and re-adjudicating the claim.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, rated as noncompensable, did not warrant an increase in rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a left knee disability. The claim of an ear injury is pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board determined that the veteran's request for an extension of time to file a substantive appeal with respect to the July 24, 2002 statement of the case was not timely filed.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in this case due to missing medical records. The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further action.

The veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss disorder during the period from May 17, 2001 to June 17, 2003 was denied. His claim for an increased rating was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to noise exposure during active duty. The claims for residuals of a left hand shrapnel wound and residuals of a back injury are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss in his left ear is related to service exposure, and grants service connection for this condition.

The VA granted the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but assigned a zero percent evaluation.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and chronic otitis media were denied. The RO assigned a 30 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 3, 2003, and a 50 percent rating from that date onward. For chronic otitis media, the RO assigned a 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's hearing loss worsened during his period of service and whether it was clearly and unmistakably the result of the natural progress of the condition. The case will be remanded for a VA audiology examination.

The Board finds that the veteran's low back disorder, memory loss, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred during his period of active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a 10 percent rating, as his average puretone decibel thresholds and speech discrimination scores do not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to service, while his history of pancreatitis disability is not shown to be due to service. The veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence regarding the presence and etiology of current hearing loss.