Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than what was already assigned.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have current left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's reported symptoms of ringing in his ears since service are consistent with his combat experience. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence meeting VA standards for impaired hearing.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss to his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ear hearing loss and mild dysthesia of the right fifth cranial nerve are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, as well as a search for relevant medical records. The claim for an extraschedular rating for tinnitus is also pending.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current hearing disability and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for nephritis, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, and the case is dismissed.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unemployable, considering his educational and occupational background.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot/leg disorder, headaches, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim to reopen a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD was also denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for various conditions are pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the cause of the veteran's right ear hearing loss, including obtaining service medical records and a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence that the conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left inguinal hernia, nasal congestion, bronchitis, a left ear condition, and hearing loss. The evidence does not support these claims.

The appellant has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for hearing loss in the left ear. As a result, this issue is dismissed without prejudice.

The Board found that the appellant's tinnitus is not related to his military service and denied an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The noncompensable rating assigned since November 2003 remains in effect.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to active military service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and did not address his claim for service connection for a lung disability claimed as COPD and lung cancer, resulting from exposure to asbestos.