Hearing loss decisions — 2005

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA clinic records and scheduling him for a VA audiology examination. The RO will then readjudicate his claims based on the evidence.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current test results do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is causally related to noise exposure during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to incomplete audiometric examination results. A new VA audiological examination will be scheduled to provide the necessary information.

The veteran is seeking TDIU based on his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The VA has ordered a remand to determine the current severity of his hearing impairment and its impact on employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no current disability and concluding that the preponderance of evidence is against his claim.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as the evidence does not warrant a rating higher than the current 10 percent evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a welding burn to the eye, bilateral hearing loss, and prostate cancer. The evidence did not support any link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claim, and there is no direct link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that a 10 percent initial schedular rating for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted, effective from July 19, 2002.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to noise exposure while serving as an aviation mechanic in service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board determined that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence sufficient to reopen his claim for service connection for liver disease (to include hepatitis). The claims for psychiatric disability and right ear hearing loss were also denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's initial evaluations for his service-connected disabilities were granted, with the evaluation for herniated nucleus pulposus L3-S1 with radiculopathy increased to 40 percent effective July 16, 1996.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for secondary service connection for a right knee disability was also denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for more specific medical opinions regarding her hearing loss and abdominal complaints.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a rating of 60 percent is warranted based on his current level of disability.

The Board determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, a sleep disorder, hypertension, and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease with stenosis. The rating assigned was 40 percent for the lumbar spine condition.

The veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to procedural defects in the VCAA notice provided.