Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance of another person was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to care for most of his daily personal needs without regular personal assistance from others.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The veteran's claims were based on direct evidence rather than presumptive exposure to Agent Orange or other conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and COPD, but granted service connection for headaches and a psychiatric disability.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's bilateral eye disability and denied increased initial ratings for his bilateral hearing loss. The case is remanded to obtain new VA examinations and review of medical records.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain missing service medical records, verify the veteran's dates of service with a reserve component, and obtain updated VA examination opinions. The appeal will be remanded for these actions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, and a chronic prostate disorder. Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss, Hepatitis C, and sleep apnea.,Service connection was not granted for PTSD or tinnitus due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, and thus denied restoration of his 10% rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no medical evidence relating his hearing loss to any event or injury in service.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence did not show impairment warranting a higher evaluation under the applicable schedular criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his left ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating due to the level of impairment in both ears.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from March 12, 2001. The hearing loss and low back disorder claims are granted.

The Board finds that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are more likely due to post-service noise exposure, but service connection is granted as his in-service acoustic trauma provided a basis for these conditions.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent, as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The RO assigned a noncompensable rating based on the veteran's hearing test results, which showed Level I hearing loss in both ears.

The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss as of June 29, 2005. The veteran's initial claim was denied prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during service or within one year post-service. The VA examinations did not find a nexus between current disabilities and service.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied. Prior to January 23, 2006, the rating remained at 10 percent. After that date, it was reduced to 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a respiratory disorder, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not attributable to service and was not first manifest within one year of separation from service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.