Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for Special Monthly Pension (SMP) based on needing regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound due to his multiple disabilities.,The veteran had hypertension, heart problems, hearing loss, depression, diabetes, and arthritis. However, he did not have a single disability rated at 100% that would meet the requirement for SMP based on need for A&A.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have impaired hearing in his right ear, as defined by VA standards. Therefore, service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and a rating in excess of 40 percent for his low back disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection due to lack of manifestation of hearing loss or low back disability during service, and no new evidence was presented to reopen the claim. The veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The VA denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and low back pain were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his right ear hearing loss disability has been denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus must be denied as there is no competent evidence of a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD was denied. For bilateral hearing loss, the RO granted service connection but assigned a noncompensable rating prior to May 8, 2003, and then increased it to 10 percent from that date. The RO also denied an increase in the rating for PTSD.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the cause of death and service connection issues.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disorders, and mental health conditions.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's exposure to acoustic trauma during active military service is likely the cause of his current condition.

The Board found that the medical evidence did not indicate a link between the veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic right ear disorder to include suppurative otitis media. The issue of service connection for chronic right ear cold injury residuals, including a frozen ear, is being remanded due to lack of evidence showing such condition during active service or thereafter.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have begun during his active duty service and is granted as service connected.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, fatigue (including chronic fatigue syndrome), hair loss, skin rashes, right shoulder pain, psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and sinusitis. The decision was based on a finding that there is no medical evidence indicating the veteran has these conditions or their symptoms.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current disabilities for hypertension, high frequency hearing loss in the right ear, tinnitus, or a right knee disability. Therefore, service connection was denied.