Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss during service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection as there is not a medical opinion linking his current bilateral hearing loss to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is more likely than not related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss. The right ear hearing loss was rated as noncompensable.

The Board is remanding the case due to the need for additional development and notification under 38 U.S.C.A. §§ 5103, 5103A, and 3.159.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it. The Board also found that the veteran's tinnitus was incurred during active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his military service, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hemorrhoids. The veteran was already receiving a 10 percent rating for each condition.

The veteran's claim for TDIU was granted effective April 24, 2003. The Board found that the earliest date of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus is April 24, 2003, which is when the TDIU should have been granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant's left ear hearing loss does not meet VA regulatory requirements to be considered a disability for VA purposes and is not related to military service.

The veteran's increased rating claim for cerebrospinal meningitis with tinnitus is denied. The Board also found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has not been shown to have increased in severity since his last VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor can they be presumed to have been so incurred. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for a right knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence was not received in either case.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to disease or injury during his active military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from the Ohio Army National Guard and scheduling a VA audiological examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any currently manifested hearing loss.

The veteran's claim is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and conflicting evidence about his exposure to combat noise during service. A new examination is needed to address these matters.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of recent private medical evidence.

The veteran's initial disability ratings for bilateral tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss have been denied as they are already at the maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, effective October 28, 2002. The claim for an increased rating remains pending as the grant does not represent a total grant of benefits sought on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions were incurred during active duty.