Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss, acoustic neuroma, and paralysis of the VII (facial) cranial nerve are all related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board has determined that additional VA actions are needed, including obtaining relevant records and considering allegations of CUE in a previous rating decision.

The veteran has requested the withdrawal of his appeals regarding bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. As a result, the Board dismisses these appeals.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, heart disability with associated visual disorder, low back disability, residuals of head injury other than headaches, and right hip disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety neurosis with depression, arthritis of the cervical and thoracic spine, and sensorineural hearing loss. The decision also denied entitlement to TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date, finding that the grants of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were assigned based on October 8, 1998, when he submitted a request to reopen his previously denied claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for pes planus. The evidence did not support a finding that his hearing loss or pes planus were related to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation and current evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral defective hearing was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an exceptional or unusual disability picture with marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and knee disabilities, as well as his claim to reopen a previously denied back disability. The decision also addressed evaluations for right and left hip disabilities, finding that they did not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the impact of the veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability, specifically bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and for increased ratings for hearing loss. The appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence, including records from a Vet Center and information about alleged stressors during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of blowout fracture of the right orbit, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case.

The VA denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus to service. The veteran's PTSD was granted with an initial evaluation of 50%.

The VA denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the July 2003 audiometric evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss is not related to service, and his left ear hearing loss does not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration of the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral hearing loss, but determined that new evidence does not warrant reopening of his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The back disability claim is granted on the merits.