Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board found that the veteran does not have right ear hearing loss attributable to his period of military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim or examination in the record.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of evidence, particularly regarding a recent VA examination for left ankle disability. The veteran's claim remains pending.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as his most recent audiometric evaluations show Level II and Level IX hearing in each ear.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 5, 1999 for a 50 percent evaluation of his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to obtain VA treatment records from Oregon.

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

The veteran's anemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and chronic fatigue are presumed to have been incurred in Persian Gulf service. Scoliosis is not considered a qualifying disability for presumptive service connection under the VCAA. Epstein-Barr virus, hearing loss disability, and allergic rhinitis were also found to be related to service.

The veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss has been granted, with a 60% rating effective December 22, 2003.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the provided evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the tracheostomy scar of the neck, finding that it meets two out of eight characteristics of disfigurement. The right ear hearing loss remains at 10 percent.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for degenerative intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine without radiculopathy, effective July 5, 2001. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has ordered a remand for the claims of service connection for Crohn's disease and bilateral hearing loss disability due to incomplete interpretation of the May 1969 audiogram. The veteran is advised that if he can provide evidence showing current hearing loss disability incurred in or aggravated by active service, he must submit such evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, and thus the claim is granted.

The appellant has withdrawn their appeal, so the case is dismissed.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure. He has residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left hand, and his perforated left tympanic membrane is presumed due to service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Denver RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board found that the veteran's left ear hearing loss is not service-connected due to pre-existing conditions at entry into service. The right ear hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service. Tinnitus is considered service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss warrants a 20 percent evaluation, and his left knee disabilities do not warrant increased evaluations.