Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee arthritis, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The appeals for reopening of claims for a bilateral foot disability and status post parotidectomy were also denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claim can be adjudicated on its merits. The case will be remanded for additional evidence and possible VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss, a lung disorder, pneumonia, or residuals of a left hand fracture. The claim for baldness as a result of ionizing radiation is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran was exposed to acoustic trauma in service and currently has these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and refractive error, as well as his claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected scarring. The evidence did not show a current disability for any of these conditions.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is causally related to his military service, specifically noise exposure. The court ruled in favor of granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his depressive mood disorder, chronic cystitis, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for service connection for a kidney disorder was not addressed as it is not related to the appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection. For pleural thickening, the Board determined that a rating in excess of 10 percent was not warranted based on the current evidence.

The veteran's hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a disability rating due to bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA compensation standards.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee condition are related to his active service.

The veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss and bilateral ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing appropriate VA examinations.

The Board found that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss is not attributable to his period of active military service and denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and coronary bypass grafting residuals have not warranted an effective date prior to November 23, 1992 for a 100 percent disability evaluation. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a hiatal hernia, hearing loss, sinus condition, migraine headaches, and inguinal hernia. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a hiatal hernia.

The Board has granted the veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and basal cell carcinoma of the nose. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is based on a preexisting condition that worsened during active duty, while the claim for basal cell carcinoma of the nose is reopened due to new evidence showing treatment in July 1993.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not caused by noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he does not currently have a disability that meets VA standards.

The Board denied service connection for asbestosis and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of a direct relationship to military service.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal because his notice of disagreement was not timely filed with respect to his claims for service connection.