Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional development, including an audiological examination and consideration of all evidence.

The Board found that a chronic left ear disorder, including hearing loss, was not shown to have been present in service or for many years thereafter. Therefore, the veteran's claim for service connection for a left ear disorder, to include hearing loss, is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate evidence and requests for additional development.

The veteran's service connection claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, a right hip disorder, and a skin condition (including scars) on the basis of herbicide exposure were granted. The veteran also received higher initial ratings for PTSD and dermatophytosis and tinea pedis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions and concluded that they were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The veteran's cold injury residuals of the feet and left ear hearing loss are service-connected, with a rating of 30 percent for each. The right ear hearing loss is not service-connected.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, specifically the acoustic trauma he experienced while working as a sheet metal worker apprentice around aircraft. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is as likely as not due to military noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA standards, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding no medical evidence linking any in-service condition or disability to his death from probable acute myocardial infarction. The appeal was also denied for DIC benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after separation from active duty. The VA audiological examinations have shown significant hearing loss in both ears but do not indicate a direct link to service.

The veteran is seeking an effective date earlier than June 14, 2002 for service connection of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The Board will consider whether the September 1992 rating decision denying service connection was made in error (CUE).

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his right carpal tunnel syndrome and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence does not warrant a compensable rating.

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing loss does not warrant a higher initial evaluation, as it is currently rated at zero percent.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, but denied the claim on the merits. The evidence submitted is new and relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim (the existence of current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss), but it does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim as there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current hearing loss to his military service.

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