Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied both his claim for service connection and his request for a higher level of special monthly compensation.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence submitted since the May 2001 decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. The veteran's hearing loss is found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated at a 10 percent disability rating, and thus does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and potential changes in diagnostic criteria.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disability and bilateral hearing loss are not service-connected, with no new evidence provided to reopen claims. The veteran's current disabilities do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the claims are not ready for appellate disposition due to missing service medical records and lack of information regarding the veteran's POW status. The VA is instructed to make reasonable efforts to obtain relevant records, including from private providers.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not currently have any of the claimed disabilities, and thus cannot establish service connection for them based on exposure to ionizing radiation in service.

The veteran's claims for increased hearing loss and service connection for apical lung scarring or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating for hearing loss, and there was insufficient medical evidence to establish service connection for the claimed conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during or immediately after his military service. The Board concluded that the current diagnoses were not related to his active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo, as secondary to his service-connected hearing loss. The issue of a higher disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is addressed in the REMAND portion and is currently pending.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, thus denying the appeal.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus and hearing loss, do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to their combined effect.

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

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

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The veteran's hearing loss disability, which includes bilateral hearing loss and right otitis media, was evaluated by the VA as Level II in both ears. Since this level is noncompensable under the rating schedule, a compensable rating for his condition has not been granted.

The veteran's left ear hearing loss was evaluated, but did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran claims his bilateral hearing loss was incurred in service. The VA has not yet obtained all relevant medical records, particularly those from before 2001, and the RO is instructed to obtain these records and arrange for an examination by a specialist to determine if his current hearing loss is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss due to acoustic trauma incurred in wartime service. The claim for low back disability remains denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The veteran's claim is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including medical examinations and a review of his claims folder. The case will be reconsidered after this process.