Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was incurred during service due to noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was received on February 19, 1999. The Board found no evidence of an earlier claim and denied the request for an effective date prior to this date.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is likely related to his in-service exposure to noise during active duty, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss for VA purposes, his tinnitus is not related to service, his ingrown toenail condition was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and there is no evidence of chronic otitis media. As such, the claims for these conditions are denied.

The veteran does not currently suffer from bilateral hearing loss and her claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable ratings for his claimed disabilities, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on the current medical evidence.

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

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that November 6, 2001 is the correct date.,The Board also granted an earlier effective date of September 6, 2002 for the grant of service connection for residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right foot and lower right leg.

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing loss does not warrant an increased rating as it currently manifests at Level II in the right ear and Level I in the left ear, which do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a gastrointestinal disability, and arteriosclerotic heart disease due to lack of evidence showing an in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has dismissed the claims for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus due to a lack of timely filed Substantive Appeal on the matter of an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are rated at 10 percent each, which is the maximum schedular rating for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for bilateral high frequency hearing loss effective from August 23, 2002.,An effective date of October 1, 2001, was assigned for the veteran's award of a 10 percent disability evaluation for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a service-connected hearing loss, tinnitus, headache disorder (claimed as secondary to tinnitus), vertigo, or sinusitis.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional VCAA notice. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service in the military. The case will be returned for further development, including a VA examination and proper VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not warrant a compensable disability rating in any of the issues on appeal.

The veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to service and did not manifest within the first year after separation from active duty. Therefore, his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.