Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that the evidence did not support ratings higher than 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted with effective dates of November 24, 1980, and August 23, 2000 respectively.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disability, low back disability, thoracic outlet syndrome, right hand disability, tendonitis of bilateral elbows, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected right ear otitis media and hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not warrant a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, have been shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for emesis, left ankle disorder, and left ear hearing loss. The RO assigned noncompensable ratings for bilateral pes planus.

The veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss has been reopened. His PTSD remains at a 70 percent rating, but his tinnitus claim was denied.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or a back disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and bilateral high frequency hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining recent VA treatment records and conducting examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, right knee chondromalacia, left knee chondromalacia, and bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current rating of 10% is considered adequate based on the evidence of record.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic stomach disability, left ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus, foot disability, left shoulder and arm disability, sinus disability, bronchial asthma, or an acquired psychiatric disability that was incurred in service. The veteran's complaints were generally attributed to reflux disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's hearing loss disability is manifested by level II hearing loss in one ear and level I hearing loss in the other ear, warranting a 10 percent evaluation under the schedular criteria. The claim for an increased evaluation is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus is related to his service due to noise exposure, and granted an increased rating for psoriasis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and otitis media were not incurred or aggravated by active military service. The evidence does not support a grant of service connection for these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service, and the VA examiner determined that any current bilateral hearing loss is not related to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, a right knee disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are all denied. The RO is instructed to schedule the veteran for VA examinations to determine if any current conditions are related to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 15, 2001 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was granted. The effective date is set at June 15, 2001.