Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The VA denied a compensable rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his average puretone thresholds did not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a compensable schedular rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for left ear hearing loss is also being considered.

The VA determined that the appellant's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim and granted service connection for hearing loss, finding that new evidence supports a link between the condition and military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for traumatic arthritis, status post right wrist fracture, is remanded due to incomplete development.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD is being remanded. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains unresolved, with the veteran having level III hearing acuity in each ear.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current residuals of frostbite of the feet, hypertension was diagnosed during service and is not related to service, hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown by current medical evidence, and PTSD was not diagnosed. The claim for PTSD will be remanded due to lack of verification of stressor events.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as his previous denial in 1966 was final. The current application is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the lack of available service medical records, and a VA examination is needed to determine if he has sufficient hearing loss and tinnitus to meet disability criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after the last supplemental statement of the case, and a VA examination is needed to determine if the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service.

The Board denied service connection for a right ear disability and assigned a 10 percent rating for post-operative left ankle instability. The claim for the right thumb ligament repair was also denied.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and right knee injury, finding no evidence of current disability related to his period of active duty.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and sending an updated Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The veteran's hearing loss claim will be reconsidered based on new evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating, and thus denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial increased rating for residuals of a left middle finger injury, finding that his pre-existing hearing loss was not aggravated during active service.

The Board found no evidence of current right ear hearing loss or tinnitus related to service, and denied the claims for these conditions.,There is no evidence of Hepatitis C in service. The veteran's diagnosis was made many years after service, and the claim was denied.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss. The veteran does not currently have diagnosed tinnitus related to service, and there is no medical evidence indicating that any possible tinnitus began during or was aggravated by service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded to allow for additional development of his hearing loss and back pain cases.