Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The hearing at the RO is also scheduled.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, left forearm injury, and right heel pain (plantar fasciitis), finding that the evidence did not support a direct link to service.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals of the issues for an effective date earlier than July 19, 2001, for the assignment of a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss and of an initial rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a hearing for the veteran.

The veteran's appeal is for higher initial ratings for several service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension with cardiomegaly, and left shoulder impingement syndrome. The RO has denied these claims.,The veteran's most recent VA evaluations were conducted in December 1998 and January 1999.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's hepatitis C was not related to his military service, and the evidence did not support an increased rating for his hearing loss.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss disability, malaria, and hypertension.,Service connection was not granted for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss or a bilateral knee disorder, and therefore service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss has been remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for service-connected right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded to the RO for preparation of a Statement of the Case.

The veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings were denied. His adjustment disorder, with mixed anxiety and depression, was not found to be related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as the average puretone thresholds did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for another audiological examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 28, 1997, for a total rating due to unemployability caused by service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that under VA standards, the veteran became unemployable during the year prior to his application.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the veteran's current hearing loss, tinnitus, and hidradenitis suppurativa and his service. The veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore service connection cannot be granted for any of them.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, resulting in a denial of his claim.

The Board has granted the veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for headaches, hearing loss, and blackout spells. The underlying issues of entitlement to service connection are now considered on their merits.