Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right knee sprain, low back strain as secondary to right knee sprain, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of competent evidence linking current hearing problems to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a specialist's opinion on the etiology of hearing loss and tinnitus.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on his current hearing acuity levels.

The veteran's appeal was denied because he did not file a timely notice of disagreement with the February 2002 rating decision.

The veteran is seeking an increase in compensation for his spouse's need for aid and attendance. However, the claim cannot be granted as there are no provisions allowing such a grant under current laws.

The Board has determined that the veteran's infertility, hearing loss, and skin rash are not service-connected. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. Therefore, his claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for bipolar disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The earliest effective date that can be assigned is September 11, 2001.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss in the left ear had its onset during service and granted service connection for this condition. The Board also found no current disability of the left knee or chronic low back disability, thus denying these claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 21, 2001, for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a formal or informal application for this benefit before that date.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss in his left ear was not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's right ear hearing loss existed prior to service and did not undergo any increase in underlying pathology during service. Therefore, it was denied as incurred in or aggravated by service.

The VA has denied an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) were denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations in August 2004.

The Board has determined that a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is warranted effective October 20, 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his pure tone thresholds do not meet the criteria for any higher rating under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.