Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board has returned the case to the RO for further development due to incomplete procedural steps and the need to review all evidence on file.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, but his tinnitus is not.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for full and complete compliance with the enhanced duty-to-notify and duty-to-assist provisions set out in the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000, as well as ensuring that a VA examination is conducted to determine his current level of hearing.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The initial evaluation for paramyotonia congenita was granted, but the other claims remain unresolved.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an immature personality disorder, panic disorder with adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety, ischemic heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chloracne of the hands and face, and diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure are all denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year of service. The veteran's claims for left knee disorder and bone spurs of the heels were withdrawn prior to a decision.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was determined to be incurred in active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and right hip disorder are not related to his active service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 19, 2002, finding that his hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating during the relevant period.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no competent evidence associating these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his most recent audiometric test results do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left arm disability, including his bilateral hearing loss, is related to his service-connected right arm reflex sympathetic dystrophy and grants service connection for these conditions.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation, and thus denied his claim for an initial compensable evaluation.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as 60 percent disabling, which grants a higher rating than the previous 50 percent. The claim for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability is a result of in-service acoustic trauma and grants service connection for this condition.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, finding that his current level of hearing acuity does not warrant such evaluations.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and fatigue, muscle and joint pains, diarrhea and sleep disturbance were denied. The claim for fatigue, muscle and joint pains, diarrhea and sleep disturbance was determined to be due to an undiagnosed illness related to Gulf War exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis, finding that it first appeared during active military service and has continued to the present.