Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed conditions, including arthritis of the shoulders, cervical and lumbar disc disease, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension are related to his active service. The appeal is granted for these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for additional examination.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. However, the claim is denied as there is no evidence that his current hearing loss disability is related to or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and therefore denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, an immunodeficiency syndrome with chronic upper respiratory infections, sinusitis and bronchitis, peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, post-traumatic stress disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The reasons were that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the veteran's service or radiation exposure.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, left knee, and bilateral flat feet conditions were denied. His claim for higher ratings of his service-connected left foot condition was also denied.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for further development, including an examination and opinion regarding whether the veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during service.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and vertigo (as a symptom of Meniere's syndrome) are rated at 40 percent, while his otitis externa is rated at 10 percent. The veteran also meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and entitlement to a total rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The decision found that tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a higher rating for tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric disability, residuals of cholesterolemia, hearing loss, heart disease, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), corneal embolism, and hernia. The evidence did not show a relationship between these conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus has been received. The veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, and his ankylosing spondylitis and gastrointestinal disability are both rated at the maximum allowable under VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim due to inadequate VCAA notice, and the case must be returned for proper notification.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss due to a significant change in the law during the pendency of this appeal, requiring additional development.

The Board has denied service connection for pituitary adenoma, hearing loss, lumbar scoliosis (back pain), and hypertension. The veteran's claim for lumbar scoliosis is pending as the VA examination did not indicate if it was congenital or acquired.

The Board denied service connection for low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The veteran's complaints of back pain during service were not supported by objective medical evidence at the time or within one year after separation from service. His current disabilities are considered to have a remote onset unrelated to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, left ear hearing loss, and rheumatoid arthritis as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensably disabling under the provisions of Diagnostic Code 6100, resulting in a denial of his claim for an increased rating.

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