Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The case is being remanded due to the need for further action by the Central Office regarding an extra-schedular rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his period of active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and a need for further development of evidence.

The Board denied service connection for right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, skin rash due to undiagnosed illness, sleep disturbance due to undiagnosed illness, muscle and joint pain due to undiagnosed illness, and memory loss due to undiagnosed illness. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection based on the veteran's reported history.

The Board denied service connection for ocular albinoidism and found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss warranted a 20 percent disability rating from May 9, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and a vision disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to his military service, including exposure to combat noise. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for prostatitis, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and a skin disorder of the legs. The claim for hypertension was also denied as it may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his bilateral hearing loss due to procedural issues and the need for further development, including an audiogram evaluation.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise and service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left ear tinnitus is warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of current conditions related to active duty service.

The Board finds that the veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is at least as likely as not directly related to noise exposure in service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current hearing loss and his in-service noise exposure, thus denying service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant an initial compensable rating, as it is currently rated at Level I. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right ankle disorder or low back disorder related to service, but he was granted service connection for hearing loss.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus due to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need of regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are granted, with a 10 percent rating assigned for the upper gastrointestinal disability (GERD).

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.