Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are attributable to exposure to acoustic trauma during service. The dental condition is not related to service, but VA provided dentures in 1961 after he underwent extractions for a duodenal ulcer.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a skin condition, including as due to exposure to herbicides. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10% since May 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a compensable evaluation for malaria, finding that there was no evidence of active disease or residuals.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 40 percent prior to June 2, 2004 and from that date. The decision grants the higher ratings.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by speech recognition of 84 percent in the right ear and 88 percent in the left ear, with an average pure tone threshold loss of 52 decibels in the right ear and 51 decibels in the left ear. The RO denied a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current hearing loss disability in the right ear, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Board found that service connection was not warranted for left ear hearing loss and denied all other claims of increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting left ear hearing loss did not increase in severity during service, and there is no current right ear disability linked to active service. Therefore, the claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from March 13, 2001 to March 30, 2005 was denied as his hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable rating, as it did not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for left elbow internal derangement and determined that new evidence supports this reopening. The veteran's left elbow internal derangement was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as it existed prior to service. The right elbow disability, depression and anxiety, and hearing loss were also not found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete notification and assistance, as well as the need for an audiological examination.

The veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further development, including obtaining verification of his service and any Reserve service. A VA examination will be conducted to determine if these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for compensable ratings of his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The RO has remanded the case to clarify which specific rating decisions are in error and what effective dates he believes should be assigned.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, the veteran's current hearing loss is not considered service-connected due to lack of in-service hearing impairment and no evidence showing it was caused by military noise exposure. The Board also found that hypertension is secondary to the veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable rating, as it did not meet the criteria for any higher level of impairment during the appeal period.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, left ear hearing loss, hiatal hernia with Barrett's esophagus, and facial and neck scarring. The preponderance of evidence did not support higher ratings under VA rating criteria.