Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is no more than 0 percent disabling, and thus denied his claim for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not timely perfect an appeal on his claim for a compensable evaluation for service-connected left postoperative varicocele, thus dismissing this issue.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since the effective date of service connection, and no higher rating is warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss effective May 10, 2002.

The VA is requesting additional development to assess the severity of the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, including scheduling a new examination. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for alcoholism, increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for muscle contraction headaches, lumbosacral strain (low back pain), a cervical spine disability, and a bilateral shoulder disability have been denied due to lack of legal merit.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected Meniere's syndrome with bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that a 30 percent rating was appropriate.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any conditions related to his active service, and therefore denied all claims for service connection.

The veteran's hearing is within normal limits bilaterally, and the Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability.

The veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of his case.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a clarifying medical opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and perforated ear drums due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to active service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial separate 10 percent evaluations for each ear of tinnitus, finding that a single 10 percent rating was appropriate under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.87, Diagnostic Code 6260 (2004).

The veteran is seeking service connection for hearing loss in the left ear with infections, deterioration of the ear drum and bone structure, with loss of balance, dizziness, and blackouts. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to clarify the nature and etiology of his current left ear disorder.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied a higher rating for residuals of a fractured mandible. The low back disorder claim is remanded due to incomplete development.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further examination and review of his medical records.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and for an effective date prior to April 10, 2002 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus. The decision concluded that there was no evidence linking the current hearing loss or tinnitus to active service.