Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder. The issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in the January 1988 rating decision that denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder is not applicable as it does not involve service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development and process at the RO.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence linking his current hearing loss to his active duty.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his active duty.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including providing Dingess/Hartman compliant notice and scheduling a VA audiology examination to assess the severity of his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board found no competent evidence linking post-phlebitis of the right leg to military service and denied the claim. The issue of reopening a hearing loss claim is being remanded for further development.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right acoustic neuroma with hearing loss is not related to his prior VA treatment in 1981 and 1982, and thus compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the appellant is denied benefits for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and cerebral hemorrhage. The veteran was not granted any higher disability ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities are related to noise exposure during military service.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss within one year of discharge, and thus denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as not incurred due to active service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records, including a VA psychiatric examination for PTSD and a VA audiometric examination for hearing loss. The appellant will also be provided with corrective VCAA notice.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and an initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service. The hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, and thus denies his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and COPD, but denied them on the merits. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was not supported by new evidence related to the etiology of the condition. The claim for COPD was reopened due to a November 2004 VA examination report that is material to the etiology of the veteran's COPD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, as it is linked to exposure to high noise levels during his military service.