Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The VA determined that the veteran does not have left ear hearing loss, and denied his claim for service connection.,Regarding the cervical spine/upper back condition, the VA found insufficient evidence to grant service connection on a direct basis or as secondary to service-connected shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if there is pathology superimposed on the veteran's pre-existing respiratory disorder during service and whether his current hearing loss disability is related to his active service. The claims will be readjudicated following this development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his active military service, including in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of cold injury to the hands, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability are addressed in the remand following this order.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for further audiometric testing.

The Board denied an increased (compensable) disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's service-connected hearing loss does not warrant a higher rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Board found that the veteran does not have an auditory threshold in any of the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, or 4000 Hertz of 40 decibels or greater; or speech recognition scores using the Maryland CNC Test of less than 94 percent. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not met.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran currently suffers from hearing loss and tinnitus, which may be related to service. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The veteran's left hip bursitis is service-connected.,Bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his service exposure to excessive noise, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and clarifying his claim for service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The veteran's tinnitus in both ears is rated at 10 percent since January 31, 2001.,His bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

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

The competent and probative medical evidence established that the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was incurred in active service due to noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, and thus denied his claim for an increased rating.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims to reopen for right shoulder disorder and bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus, callosities and degenerative arthrosis. The veteran is also service-connected for hearing loss in the left ear, degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, a bilateral knee disorder, and depression.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, including pulmonary tuberculosis, asthma, hearing loss, and beriberi, for purposes of accrued benefits.