Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or current disabilities. The VA audiology examination concluded that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his time in service, and thus grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable initial disability rating.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as the initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for PTSD and hepatitis C infection. The appellant's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, hepatitis C infection at 10 percent, and there are no current issues regarding service connection or evaluation.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hearing loss of the right ear and remanded it for further development. The issue of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is also being remanded.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records from two hospitals.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant an initial compensable rating.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The VA determined that the veteran's initial noncompensable (0 percent) evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is causally related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a skin disorder presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, and sinusitis. The veteran's current conditions were not found to be directly related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a compensable rating, and his shrapnel wound scars were also denied as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 60 percent from February 2002 to present.

The VA denied the veteran's request for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, assigning a 50 percent rating effective November 30, 1998.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an effective date prior to June 1, 1999, and service connection for accrued benefits. The March 18, 1982 rating decision denying DIC benefits was not found to be clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. Therefore, service connection for hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability or service-connected right and left knee disabilities. The claims are denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus. The veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent, while his tinnitus claim was not granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's inservice noise exposure is related to his current conditions.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating based on his audiometric test results.