Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, currently rated at 30 percent, does not warrant an increase in disability rating.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, effective from January 23, 2006. Prior to this date, no compensable evaluation was assigned.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for diabetic gastroparesis and bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. The issue of severance of service connection for diabetic gastroparesis has been resolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and a need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of the evidence is against finding a current bilateral hearing loss disorder related to service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of the evidence is against finding a current bilateral hearing loss disorder related to service, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral tinnitus is at least partly due to his in-service military noise exposure, and thus service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim for spasmodic torticollis was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the veteran did not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss, bilateral axillary abscesses, or degenerative arthritis in either knee. The veteran also did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his cervical spine or lumbar spine conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an increased rating for chronic lumbar strain, and an increased rating for hypopigmented scarring due to undiagnosed rash. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a current disability in any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the claim, including providing proper VCAA notice.

The Board found no evidence of a causal relationship between the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities and his military service, including noise exposure. Therefore, both claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, and lumbar spine disorder. The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his scars were also addressed but not decided.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no objective evidence linking his current hearing loss to his military service.

The veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the basic eligibility requirements for a nonservice-connected pension due to his service not occurring during a period of war or in the Persian Gulf War, and thus denied the claim.

The VA determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability did not have its onset during service or within one year after discharge, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and determined that new evidence received since the last denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. However, the Board found no evidence to support the claim as it relates to in-service noise exposure or any other injury or disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any current disabilities related to service, including knee, leg, foot, hearing loss, eye, and PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left ear sensorineural hearing loss disability, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability, and allergic rhinitis. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation in any of these conditions.