Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated during service, and the Board denied his claim as there is no evidence linking current hearing loss to in-service noise exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset during service and is not related to any in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

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

The Board denied the appellant's requests to reopen his claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the new evidence submitted was not material.

The Board found that the veteran did not timely perfect an appeal of his increased disability rating for chronic lumbar strain, and denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to lack of evidence showing he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment solely from his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA audiological evaluation and review of private audiometry reports. The RO will determine if the veteran's hearing loss disability had increased in severity prior to April 27, 2005.

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

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence of bilateral hearing loss disability, as defined by VA standards. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria, and therefore denied his claim for an increased evaluation.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 26, 1999 for the grant of individual unemployability is denied. The earliest effective date allowed by law has been granted.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to notification requirements and the need for additional medical records. The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an initial increased rating for diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy will be reconsidered after obtaining necessary information and evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to December 27, 2002, for service connection for tinnitus and for an effective date prior to October 16, 2002, for service connection for hearing loss.,There is no clear indication of a pending claim or application for these benefits before the dates mentioned.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the presence and etiology of PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right foot disability. The RO will also provide notice on what evidence is needed to substantiate his claim for an increased rating for his right foot disability.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the RO denied an increased rating.,Service connection for arthritis of both knees was not granted. The veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left hand remains at a noncompensable rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and therefore denied the reopening of the claim.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 10 percent disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is not warranted, as there is no evidence of an increase in severity within one year prior to the veteran's request for increased benefits on June 7, 2001.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and depression are denied as there is no competent medical evidence of current disabilities.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for either condition.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus related to the veteran's period of active service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is not warranted.