Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is currently manifested by Level I or Level II hearing in the right ear, and by Level I hearing in the left ear. Therefore, a compensable disability rating for this condition is not established.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to lack of verified stressors. The case was also remanded to determine if new and material evidence had been received to reopen his hearing loss claim, but it was ultimately denied on the merits.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a 10 percent rating through July 30, 2006.

The Board has determined that the appellant's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right wrist disability and a TDIU rating, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities for which service connection can be granted, including mastoiditis, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for non-service-connected pension benefits is denied as a matter of law due to the facts presented.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's skin rash, hearing loss disability and claimed psychiatric condition (PTSD) were all denied service connection. The skin rash was not related to service or exposure to herbicides/herbivores. Hearing loss was not found. The veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new examination of his hearing loss disability. The current evaluation remains unchanged as it was not about service connection.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is likely due to exposure to noise during military service, and grants service connection for this condition.

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

The veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss has been dismissed due to his death.

The veteran's claims for service connection for metal fuel fever residuals, right ear hearing loss, hemorrhoids, arthritis of the hands, arms, shoulders, knees, and ankles have been denied. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to arrange for an examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and emphysema. The decision found that the veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions or evidence of their onset during service. Service connection was denied as there was no direct link to service.

The Board is remanding the case to consider whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for hearing loss in the left ear. The veteran will be notified of what specific evidence would be required to substantiate this element or elements needed for service connection that were found insufficient at the time of the previous denial.

The Board denied the claims for reopening the veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims. The Board also denied the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss due to a lack of a nexus between the condition and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his period of service, and thus denied these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a grant of service connection, but the initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and post-operative right elbow scar remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current left ear hearing loss is related to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is for a higher rating for his service-connected residuals of left radical mastoidectomy with hearing loss. The Board has determined that additional development, including VA examinations and obtaining all pertinent records, is necessary before the claim can be decided.