Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a chronic disability during service or within one year after discharge. The VA examination did not establish a medical nexus between current hearing loss and military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for additional VA examination. The veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, rib fracture, and increased rating for allergic rhinitis are pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee disorder. The decision also granted service connection at a 10 percent initial disability rating for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss, including right ear high frequency sensorineural hearing loss and left ear hearing loss, was incurred in active military service due to noise exposure during service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions based on aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, right hip, and left hip are inadequately reflected by their current 20% and 10% disability ratings. The case is being remanded to provide the veteran with a comprehensive VA orthopedic examination to determine the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, but the claim for PTSD was granted. The Board found that there is credible supporting evidence of some in-service stressors and a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service acoustic trauma and his current hearing loss.

The Board has granted the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to active duty due to exposure to acoustical trauma.

The VA denied a compensable evaluation for the veteran's hearing loss of the left ear, and service connection for tinnitus. The claim was reopened but still denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tonsillitis, a pulmonary disorder, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions or any link to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to May 7, 2001, from May 7, 2001 to July 28, 2003, and from July 29, 2003 have all been denied as his claims do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The VA has increased the disability rating for the appellant's service-connected bilateral hearing loss from 20 percent to 30 percent disabling, effective May 17, 2005.,From September 20, 2003 to May 16, 2005, the VA has not granted a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss or bilateral pes planus as a result of service, and thus denied both claims.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his hearing acuity is at its worst level I in the right ear and level IV in the left ear.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation tables, and thus denied his claim.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's conditions, including hypertension, tinnitus, hearing loss, prostatitis, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy. The RO will also review the expanded record and readjudicate the issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that there is no current medical evidence of a bilateral hearing loss disability, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The RO denied service connection for several conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, status post cardiovascular accident times two, hypertension, status post myocardial infarction, bilateral hearing loss, Hepatitis A, B and C, and neuropathy of the left upper extremity. The veteran's appeal is currently pending.