Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The veteran's hearing loss disability was initially granted but not rated compensably prior to June 9, 2005. From that date, the disability warranted a 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss is service-connected, and tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The right hand disability claim is remanded for further review.

The veteran died in May 2002 due to metastatic lung cancer and pneumonia. At the time of his death, he had service-connected disabilities including gouty arthritis (40% disabling), hearing loss (10% disabling), a tonsillectomy (noncompensable), and a scar on the scalp from an excision of a sebaceous cyst (noncompensable). The veteran did not meet the requirement for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 as he was not in receipt of or entitled to receive compensation based on service-connected disability rated 100% disabling at the time of his death.

The Board has granted service connection for cardiovascular disability but denied the claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran is now required to submit a substantive appeal on his hearing loss claim.

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

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and determined that the veteran's current bilateral knee disability is not related to his military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is a reasonable possibility of their occurrence due to noise exposure in service.

The VA denied an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the veteran's claims, including records from his National Guard service and VA examination reports.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a stroke and found no new and material evidence had been presented to reopen his hearing loss claim. The decision is final.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a head injury as there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's service-connected hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since September 21, 2002. The RO granted service connection for bilateral conductive hearing loss from April 18, 2005, but the disability remains noncompensable.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the previously denied claims.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ear hearing loss and bilateral hearing loss were denied as the schedular criteria are not met for a compensable rating in either case.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected knee and back disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that they are more than slight or mild in nature.

The Board found that the veteran's left ear hearing loss did not worsen during his military service and was not incurred therein, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, which is determined to be of a direct nature and not related to any specific exposure basis or presumption, has been granted an increased rating to 70 percent.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation greater than 60 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and initial evaluations for bilateral hearing loss disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service noise exposure related to current tinnitus, and there was no medical opinion linking his current hearing loss to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to November 29, 2001 for a 10% rating for bilateral hearing loss.