Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss was not present during or related to his service and may not be presumed to have been incurred due to military noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was found to not warrant a compensable rating prior to June 17, 2002 and did not meet the criteria for an increased rating beginning on that date.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it is as likely as not related to his military service. The presumption of soundness at entry into service was rebutted due to evidence indicating pre-existing conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during his period of active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, and his tinnitus is already rated at its maximum allowable level of 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran does not have hearing loss disability with auditory thresholds in any of the specified frequencies, and thus denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's request for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded to the RO for further action.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased (compensable) evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on valid audiometry results.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and review of his medical records.

The VA denied a higher initial evaluation for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current level of hearing impairment (Level I in both ears) does not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a hearing before the Board. The veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for Meniere's disease are pending.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as evidenced by his most recent audiometric test results, warrants a 10 percent disability rating. The current effective date is not specified.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The VA has determined that the appellant's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as his hearing acuity is only at level I in one ear and level III in the other. The RO originally granted service connection and assigned a noncompensable evaluation effective from the date of receipt of the claim.

The VA determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating, as his current level of hearing acuity is Level I in both ears.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD or bilateral hearing loss, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a 10 percent disability rating, effective as of when the appeal was filed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The issue of tinnitus remains pending as there is insufficient medical evidence to determine its etiology.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal regarding the propriety of his initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and the reduction in rating from 20% to noncompensable effective January 1, 2002. The disability was evaluated as direct service connection.