Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for residuals of a head injury or hearing loss, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to service. The veteran's claims were denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss warrants a 60 percent disability rating, effective from December 1, 2003.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, residuals of a cervical spine fracture, and obstructive sleep apnea (claimed as a sleep disorder).

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing loss disability, currently rated at 10 percent, does not warrant an increase.

The Board has determined that the veteran timely filed a substantive appeal regarding the March 2003 rating decision, which granted a 10 percent rating for peptic ulcer disease and denied service connection for several other conditions. The issues of reopening previously denied claims and seeking an earlier effective date remain with the RO.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, currently rated at 10 percent, does not warrant an increased evaluation as his puretone thresholds do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The VA has confirmed and continued a 20 percent disability rating for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as his audiometric test results do not meet criteria for higher ratings based on the Rating Schedule.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, resolving all doubt in his favor.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for proper VCAA notice and for a VA audiology examination to determine the severity of his hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for hearing loss and service connection for a right hand disability, finding that there was no increase in disability during service and no current disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, entitlement to a compensable evaluation for lichen simplex chronicus, and service connection for positive tuberculin (TB) skin test and lung x-ray for TB.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, dizziness, and a psychiatric disorder have been denied. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the veteran for an examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's service connection claims for right ear hearing loss and conjunctivitis as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's spondylolisthesis of the lumbosacral spine warrants a higher initial rating of 20 percent, effective October 3, 1996. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is denied as there are no compensable ratings available under current regulations.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss attributable to his period of military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to noise exposure during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it is due to noise exposure in service.