Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for schizophrenia, bilateral hearing loss, and hepatitis C. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for schizophrenia, and there was no evidence linking hepatitis C to service.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus to his active service, including noise exposure. As a result, the claims for service connection were denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. His bilateral hearing loss claim was not supported by evidence of a current disability, while his headaches, back pain, and thumb sprain claims resulted in maximum allowable ratings.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for otitis media, finding that his service-connected condition has not resulted in any chronic suppurative otitis media or other significant hearing loss.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and a psychiatric disability other than PTSD. The decision found that there was no evidence of these conditions during or as a result of military service.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of the evidence is against the assignment of an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hypertension and a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's post-traumatic headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, the highest available rating for this condition. His bilateral hearing loss is not compensable.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether tinnitus is related to service or service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to missing medical records.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, both on an accrued benefits basis. The claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death was also denied due to insufficient evidence linking any service-connected disability to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for tinnitus remains pending as a statement of the case must be issued.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The veteran was not granted an initial compensable rating for his hemorrhoids.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his time in service, and the Board has determined that this condition can be considered as service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or non-specific dermatitis that is related to his active service. The evidence shows no hearing loss meeting VA criteria for a disability and no skin disorders currently diagnosed as being linked to service.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for his disability ratings of bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, which were assigned on March 29, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral high frequency hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's current hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for hypertension, service connection for PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss disability were denied. The claim for tinnitus was also denied.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD and hearing loss did not cause his death, as there is no evidence showing a causal connection between the conditions and his death. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.