Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The veteran was granted service connection for right ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and a psychiatric disability (including PTSD).

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and denied the claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and did not address his claims for service connection for tinnitus and degenerative changes of the right knee.

The case is REMANDED for the following actions: (1) Request the veteran to report the entire period since his retirement from service during which he has received VA medical treatment and the location of that treatment, and also any other medical treatment he has received since military retirement for any of the conditions for which he seeks service connection. (2) Schedule the veteran for VA examination to document his current hearing acuity and for the examiner to provide an opinion of the time of onset of hearing impairment and whether it is less than, equal to, or greater than 50 percent probable that current hearing impairment results from acoustic trauma in service or any other incident of service. (3) If and only if additional medical records are obtained, consider whether the veteran is entitled to additional VA examinations as provided in 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c)(4), and schedule any indicated examinations.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for hearing loss is denied as the claim was received more than one year after his separation from active duty.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss, rash on buttocks, and right knee impairment were not incurred or aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, desquamation and exfoliating rash (claimed as undiagnosed illness), and myalgias and arthralgias (claimed as joint pains and muscle aches).

The VA determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are related to loud noise exposure during service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the veteran. Therefore, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for his claimed conditions.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss, head injury, or acoustic trauma in service and the most persuasive medical opinion did not support a link between current right ear hearing loss and service. The claim was denied.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and evaluated the veteran's lumbar kyphoscoliosis, paravertebral fibromyositis, and bilateral hearing loss disability.,PTSD was not found to be incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The noncompensable rating assigned is upheld.

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

The veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed before the case can be further adjudicated. The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss will be remanded to the RO for initial consideration.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for further examination and clarification of speech recognition scores.

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

The Board found that the veteran's claimed bilateral ear disorders and hearing loss were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claims.