Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to an initial compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss and a compensable evaluation for his paralysis of the left pupil.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his active military service, including from in-service noise exposure.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current hearing loss, tinnitus, colon disability (gastrointestinal reflux disease), and back disability and his military service. The preponderance of the evidence is against all claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as there is no current evidence of the claimed disabilities.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service and grants the claim for service connection.

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) found that the veteran does not have left ear hearing loss attributable to his period of military service and denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran does not have hearing loss disability in either ear for VA compensation purposes, and therefore his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied. Prior to October 29, 2004, the VA found that his hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent. After October 29, 2004, it was determined that he met the criteria for an exceptional pattern of hearing loss (level V), warranting a 20% rating.

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

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss during service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection as his current bilateral hearing loss is more likely related to natural aging rather than active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence supports these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the appellant's chronic otitis media and hearing loss disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and VCAA notice.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a temporary total rating, compensable ratings for right ear hearing loss and otitis, and a 10% evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support these claims as the conditions were considered to be noncompensably disabling.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tendonitis of the left hand, generalized arthritis (claimed as arthritis of the entire body and chronic joint pain due to radiation exposure and cold weather exposure), tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis/allergic rhinitis, adjustment disorder with anxiety, depressed mood, insomnia, and side effects from medications. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or any specific exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during his military duties. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected headaches was granted, and he is now rated at 50 percent. The claims to reopen for major depression and hearing loss due to service-connected headaches were also granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the nature of her psychiatric condition and left ear hearing loss.