Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board has reviewed the claims for service connection and found that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen any of the previously denied claims. The veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, and therefore denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including notifying the veteran of evidence needed to support his claim for an earlier effective date for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss did not have its onset during service or for many years after discharge, and is not related to any incident of service. As a result, the claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied.

The veteran's claim for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment is denied as his visual impairment does not meet the required criteria under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, finding that none were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed, including obtaining a complete set of the veteran's service personnel records and scheduling a VA examination to discuss the nature and likely etiology of his bilateral hearing loss. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, are not related to his military service. The VA examinations found no direct link between these conditions and his time in active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to the veteran's request for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development at the St. Louis RO due to his inability to travel to Chicago.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a new audiological examination. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss will be returned to the RO after ensuring full compliance with VCAA requirements. The issue of an increased rating for bilateral tinnitus will also be remanded for issuance of a statement of the case (SOC).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for separate compensable evaluations for tinnitus in each ear, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision affirmed the RO's denial of these claims based on existing regulations and precedent opinions.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus was denied. The effective date of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and the assignment of a noncompensable rating is not earlier than January 31, 2001. However, an effective date prior to August 12, 2002, for the grant of a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted.,The veteran's claim for increased tinnitus ratings in each ear was denied as separate ratings are not allowed under current VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral eye disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, while his tinnitus was found to have its inception in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and a higher rating for otitis media are denied as there is no evidence of more than the currently assigned noncompensable evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to multiple diagnoses of PTSD and other psychiatric disabilities, as well as left ear hearing loss. The veteran should be asked to provide additional details about his claimed stressors during service and undergo a VA psychiatric examination.

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

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Board hearing at the RO. He previously declined a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board and now requests a hearing at the RO.