Hearing loss decisions — 2005

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

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and a comprehensive audiometric examination to assess the impact of his service-connected hearing loss on his ability to obtain or maintain gainful employment.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The effective date claim was also denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss disability is not more than 0% disabling and denied his claim for service connection for actinic keratoses with resulting basal cell carcinoma. The appeal was not about service connection at all, as it pertained to a clothing allowance or fee dispute.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and declining eyesight due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's hearing loss was rated at 20 percent effective November 15, 2004. Prior to this date, he did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss warrants a rating of 20 percent effective October 29, 2002.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss. The Board also found that the veteran's hearing loss is related to his military service, thus granting service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated during service, is not shown to be proximately due to or the result of any disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during service, and did not manifest to a compensable degree during the applicable presumptive period. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

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

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on his audiometric test results.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a bilateral eye disorder. The case is being remanded for further evaluation of the hearing loss claim.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issue of a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's claim for service connection for wounds to the tongue, lip, and roof of the mouth was previously denied in January 1957. New evidence does not meet the criteria for reopening this claim.,Service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no diagnosis or credible evidence linking it to service.

The Board denied the veteran's increased rating claims for hearing loss of the right ear, residuals including a scar from left inguinal herniorrhaphy, and patellofemoral dysfunction of the right knee. The RO had previously determined that these conditions did not warrant compensable ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and basal cell carcinoma, both of which were claimed as due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not meet the regulatory requirements for a current disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated during service and is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between current hearing loss and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's current tinnitus is attributed to in-service noise exposure, while his hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a higher disability evaluation.