Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA audiological evaluation and an examination.

The VA Board found that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD and thus denied service connection for this condition. The veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to the need for further medical examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, finding no evidence of a causal relationship between his current hearing loss and active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 18, 1999 for his service-connected tinnitus and hearing loss.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and an opinion from a VA audiologist regarding the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the veteran's hearing loss is related to his military service.

The veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae was incurred or aggravated in service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The other issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and residuals of nasal fracture as there is no evidence that warrants a higher rating under the applicable VA criteria.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, shoulder/arm disorder, forearm scars (shrapnel wounds), and degenerative arthritis of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine were all denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied. The RO found that the veteran already had a 10 percent rating for his bilateral hearing loss, which is not higher than what is currently assigned (50 percent). For tinnitus, there is no legal basis to assign a higher initial evaluation.

The VA determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and PTSD, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for the tinnitus rating are denied. The RO confirmed a non-compensable (0%) rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an effective date earlier than November 19, 2002 for his service connection award of bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle tendonitis and right ear hearing loss as there is no current medical diagnosis of these conditions.

The veteran's claimed seizure disorder, hearing loss, and dizziness were not found to be the result of VA medical care in October 1997.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing Social Security records and a need to issue a Statement of the Case on the compensable rating for hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran is already receiving the maximum disability rating available for tinnitus under the applicable rating criteria. The claim for separate 10 percent ratings for each ear for his service-connected tinnitus must be denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete military service records and requests for VA examinations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a private audiogram and scheduling the veteran for a VA audiological examination to assess his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as Level VIII or IX under the VA rating schedule, but does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.