Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the absence of a VA audiogram from August 2003, which was referenced in treatment records. The case will be readjudicated based on all available evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and his request for an increased rating for pansinusitis with allergic rhinitis, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the hearing loss claim and that the current disability ratings were appropriate.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus to his period of active service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss within the first year after discharge and there is no competent medical opinion linking current hearing loss to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to clarify whether the veteran currently suffers from a right ear disorder and if any such disorder is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, asbestos exposure, and radiation exposure. The veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service or any in-service exposures.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The veteran does not have a current disability for VA compensation purposes, as his February 2005 VA audiology examination did not reveal bilateral hearing loss under the criteria set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 3.385.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his military service and therefore denied both claims.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him helpless and in danger in his daily environment, requiring the regular assistance of another individual on a daily basis to accomplish personal self-care. Therefore, special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status is not warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable initial rating for left ear hearing loss and service connection for a low back disability. The RO previously granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but assigned a noncompensable initial rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for gunshot wound residuals of the left foot and for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a claim prior to February 10, 1999 for the gunshot wounds and that the veteran did not have current bilateral hearing loss or any other condition related to his military service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss does not meet or exceed the criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent, and thus denied his claim for an increased evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is due to combat noise exposure during service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient information in the current evidence of record regarding the veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, in aggregate, are found to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. Additional development is needed to determine the nature and severity of his conditions.

The veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The veteran's claim for an initial (compensable) rating for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, but the case is being remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, with tympanic sclerosis, is not entitled to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent from February 25, 2003.