Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss warrants a 10 percent rating since June 22, 2006.

The veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no current evidence of a disability for VA purposes, and the medical opinion provided does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a 10 percent disability rating effective September 27, 2005.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings on appeal are denied. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable or higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his hearing acuity is at levels III and I in each ear.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings on his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The RO assigned a noncompensable rating for the initial evaluation of tinnitus, but granted an increased rating to 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his current Numeric Designation is II for both ears.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is not related to any injury or disease incurred during service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and anxiety reaction were denied. The May 1969 rating decision reducing the disability evaluation for anxiety reaction was upheld as not being clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The claim for an effective date prior to May 5, 1999, for a PTSD increased evaluation is denied.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% and he is granted TDIU. The claims for hypertension, meningitis, bilateral hearing loss, a skin disability, and a liver disability are all denied.

The veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current 40 percent evaluation is appropriate based on the results of audiometric testing conducted in a controlled environment.

The Board has granted service connection for a high back disability and right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the veteran's bilateral high frequency hearing loss, effective from the date of the July 2003 VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his bilateral hearing loss disability due to the inadequacy of the most recent VA audio examination conducted without access to his claims file.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death, including reviewing treatment records and obtaining a medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss disability is etiologically related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active military service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, disabilities of the heart, and hypertension as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.