Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral otitis externa was denied, and his attempt to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his auditory acuity levels do not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board. The RO initially granted a 40% rating in April 1995, which became final. In September 2001, the RO denied the veteran's request for an increased rating to 60%. The Board found that as of February 11, 2004, the criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his puretone thresholds do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed disabilities, and therefore denied his service connection claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no increase in severity during service and the presumption of aggravation did not attach.

The veteran's cervical strain, mild central spinal stenosis with small central protrusion at C3-4 and disc bulge at C4-5 and C5-6 is currently rated as 30 percent disabling. The veteran's GERD and IBS are each rated as 10 percent disabling. His degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine does not warrant a higher rating, and his bilateral hearing loss is not compensable.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss. The RO previously denied these claims in October 1985, but reopened them based on new evidence submitted by the veteran.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for the period from November 4, 2002 to February 29, 2004. For the period on and after March 1, 2004, a higher rating is also denied.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim that he sustained a head injury in service and concluded that his current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the issues of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus and hearing loss disability for accrued purposes due to the appellant's withdrawal of these claims.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus was granted, and his claim for an increased evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was also granted. The veteran has Level I hearing in both ears.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for a hearing loss disability in her left ear, and therefore does not have a current disability in her left ear. As such, the claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss in the left ear is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a multiple joint disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by an average puretone threshold of 56 for the right ear and 60 decibels for the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating.

The VA medical examination and opinion concluded that the veteran's right ear hearing loss is not related to the July 1995 surgical treatment for a left ulnar fracture, thus denying his claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has vacated the previous decision and granted service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder, but denied increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and right ear hearing loss, as well as his claim for service connection for PTSD. The RO also declined to reopen a claim for left ear hearing loss due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to incomplete records and unsuccessful attempts to obtain medical records from various VA facilities. The case will be readjudicated after these efforts.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of cold injury to the hands or neck disability in service, and the current conditions do not meet criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure.