Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board found that the veteran's death was due to sepsis, caused by biliary sclerosis, as a consequence of a liver transplant. The service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The RO assigned noncompensable evaluations to all three conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, skin rash, hearing loss, and tinnitus as secondary to or aggravated by PTSD. The claim of service connection for arthritis in the left shoulder is also denied.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on housebound status or the need for regular aid and attendance has been remanded due to deficiencies in notification.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining information about his exposure to noise during service and arranging for a psychiatric examination.

The Board finds that the veteran's hypertension and tinnitus are service-connected, but his left ear hearing loss does not meet VA compensation criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is service-connected, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the claimant.

The VA granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 30 percent evaluation effective July 13, 2001. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also granted but with no compensable rating.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus, as no such evidence was provided since the May 1998 denial. The decision is mixed because both issues were denied on the merits.

The VA has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus do not warrant a compensable evaluation, with the exception of his existing 10% rating for tinnitus. The Board found no basis to grant additional ratings for either condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, residuals of cold injury to bilateral upper and lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision states that the earliest possible effective date is August 21, 2001.

The veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted at 40 percent, effective December 2, 1997. The Board has now determined that a higher initial rating is not warranted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any in-service noise exposure caused or aggravated his current condition.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if a timely Substantive Appeal was filed with respect to the February 1995 rating decision denying service connection for various conditions, and to issue a Statement of the Case regarding reopening claims for back disorder and bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have begun during his active military service and is granted service connection. Tinnitus was not shown in service or related to service, thus denial of service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss. The denial was based on the fact that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a disability as defined by VA standards.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not attributable to his period of active military service.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss disability, as defined by VA regulations, was not related to military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, right ear tinnitus, and right eye vision loss. The evidence did not show a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.