Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and hearing loss of the left ear.

Service connection for migraines and stomach disorder (claimed as gastritis and spastic colon) was denied.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ankle fracture residuals, pes planus, thoracic spine disorder, kidney stones, sinusitis/rhinitis/allergies, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), skin tumors (presumed due to herbicide exposure), arteriosclerotic heart disease (ASHD), and sleep apnea was denied.,Service connection for right ankle fracture residuals was granted.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of hearing loss and tinnitus, and the Board dismissed these issues. The claims for PTSD and gastrointestinal disability are not supported by evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds that the veteran had noise exposure during service, which likely contributed to his current bilateral hearing loss disability. Therefore, the claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizzy spells, were not incurred or aggravated by his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not show worse than Level V hearing acuity in either ear during the appeal period.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service records and medical examinations.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed as his death made the claim moot.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and secondary service connection for right hip disability and left hip disability, both related to his service-connected residuals of bilateral calcaneal fractures. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, effective from the date of the decision.

The veteran withdrew his claim for a compensable rating for otitis media with hearing loss, which was dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss effective from July 27, 2005. The preponderance of evidence supports this decision based on recent audiometric evaluations and medical opinions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss and degenerative joint disease of the shoulders, knees, and feet. The adjustment disorder with depressed mood claim was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is service-connected and a noncompensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for head trauma and headaches were granted, while the claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The claim for tinnitus was also denied.

The VA has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but assigned a noncompensable rating. The veteran seeks a higher initial rating, and the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability within the meaning of VA regulations. The most probative audiometric evidence shows no hearing loss in the right ear.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, concluding that his current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board denied an increased (compensable) rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.