Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service, and concluded that the current conditions are not related to military service.,Hypertension was first noted many years after service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes and her tinnitus is not service-connected. The other conditions listed in the issues section are either not supported by evidence or were resolved prior to separation from service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and otitis media with tinnitus, vertigo, and cholesteatoma of the left ear were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for the hearing loss disability or any increase in the current 30 percent evaluation for the otitis media.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left and right knee arthritis, and anxiety reaction, are found to be so severe that they prevent the veteran from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for examinations and additional records.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 31, 1997 for the award of Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) based on evidence showing the veteran became unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to that date.

The veteran's initial increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, with a 10 percent disability rating effective December 6, 2004. The veteran's hearing loss is manifested by moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss in both ears.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated, but did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the new version of the schedule based on audiological results. The noncompensable evaluation is assigned.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is service-connected. For his left and right ear hearing loss, the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are secondary to malaria or aggravated by noise exposure during service.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for service-connected hemorrhoids and a separate compensable evaluation for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The veteran's service-connected conditions are rated as 0 percent, but the Board found no evidence of large or thrombotic hemorrhoids warranting a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ear hearing loss, disability of the right knee manifested by instability, and right knee arthritis. The RO continued to deny these claims based on the evidence provided.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred or aggravated by service, with the examiner stating it was more likely related to post-service factors.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the veteran's claims of hearing loss, tinnitus, and a left leg disorder due to inconsistencies in previous opinions.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence of a nexus between the current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss and service, including manifestations of sensorineural hearing loss to a compensable degree within one year following the veteran's discharge from service. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ear condition and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the veteran's death.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, currently rated at 60 percent.

The veteran's bilateral ear drum scarring with deformed drums is related to his military service. The issue of entitlement to an increased evaluation for a bilateral hearing loss remains pending as the RO has not issued a statement of the case.