Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability warrants a 40 percent evaluation, effective from December 2002. The evidence does not support an increase in rating beyond this level.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not establish a current disability or link to service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss and visual loss. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss attributable to his period of military service.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service, and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date were denied. The Board found no evidence of any service connection or increase in disability related to the claimed conditions.

The veteran's appeal is dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a higher evaluation, as it is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from VA and non-VA providers, as well as seeking records from the Marine Corp Data Processing Center in DaNang, Vietnam. The veteran's claims will be reviewed again after all requested information is obtained.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred as a result of noise exposure during active service and is therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and entitlement to an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss. The decision found that the veteran did not have a right ear hearing disability within the meaning of VA laws and regulations, and that his left ear hearing loss was rated as Level I.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability and granted entitlement to an initial increased evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU were not addressed as they are pending.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss resulted in a Level II hearing acuity, which does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, chronic headaches, and staggering and loss of balance as these conditions did not develop during or due to military service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the right knee, and right knee instability have all been granted with a 10% disability rating. The issue of tinnitus has been stayed due to court precedent.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for post-operative residuals of right knee injury with laxity, effective from the date of the decision. The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been addressed.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for an increased rating for a shrapnel wound to the right calf due to failure to report for necessary examinations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right wrist disorder, left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, headache disorder, and hearing loss. The decision is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.