Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ear hearing loss and PTSD are denied. The veteran is granted TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities preventing him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting right ear hearing loss was aggravated by his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, and the claim for increased rating was denied. The lumbosacral strain disability remains at its current 20% evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and degenerative joint disease of both hands, and continued the current 10 percent rating for second- and third-degree burns with numbness of the fingers.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the current evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as it is currently rated at Level I under VA regulations.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied, and the case is being remanded to the RO for further action.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted based on the current evidence of record.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not causally related to his period of active service, including acknowledged noise exposure while engaged in combat.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the increased evaluations for left ear hearing loss and neurogenic bladder due to multiple sclerosis, prior to the Board's decision.

The Board found that there is no evidence of hearing loss in service, and the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable schedular evaluation for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss and also remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis. The RO subsequently denied referral of the case for consideration of an extraschedular rating.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss or right and left knee chondromalacia, but granted service connection for tremors, muscle spasm, and extremity numbness as due to an undiagnosed illness. Service connection was also granted for severe joint and muscle pain including of the bilateral ankles and left shoulder as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral high frequency neurosensory hearing loss was granted, with an effective date of November 15, 2004. The current rating is 10 percent.

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

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (venous insufficiency, bilateral hearing loss) render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that further development of the claim is warranted before a final decision can be made. The veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for additional examination to determine their etiology.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is a result of his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.