Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete service medical records and the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an increased disability rating as it currently results in noncompensable (0%) disability.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss during service or for many years after discharge, and thus denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating prior to December 29, 2004 and at 30 percent thereafter.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for psoriasis, pes planus, and bilateral hearing loss disability. The earlier effective date claim for tinnitus is dismissed due to withdrawal by the appellant.

The veteran's initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD were granted, with the PTSD rated at 10 percent initially and increased to 30 percent effective July 12, 2004. The veteran is seeking higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities are not related to events in service.,A 70% disability rating was granted for PTSD effective April 30, 1997. The issue of an earlier effective date for TDIU is moot as the award was made on January 23, 2003.

The Board denied the claim for an initial, compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss with loss of acoustic reflexes (also characterized as audio dyslexia), finding that the appellant does not have a separate, compensable rating for her neurological disease or injury to the eighth nerve.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, cluster headaches, chronic bronchitis, scoliosis of the lumbar spine, and tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and entitlement to special monthly pension (SMP) based on a need for regular aid and attendance or due to being housebound, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, hypertension, tension headaches, cervical and lumbar strains, toenail fungus, neuropathy, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a finger disability, were denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.

The Board granted a 20% rating for bilateral hearing loss disability effective January 5, 2006. The initial ratings were denied.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded to allow for further development, including scheduling of a VA audiological examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and facial scar as there was no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and service, including noise exposure. The veteran's statements regarding continuity of symptoms were not sufficient to establish a link.

The veteran withdrew his appeal concerning the issues of service connection for bilateral knee condition and service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including avascular necrosis of the hips and knees, a left knee disorder, low back disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral foot blisters. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The VA determined that the veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, and an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding that the claimed stressors occurred during service or were related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses for the claimed conditions and therefore service connection cannot be established. The hearing loss disability does not meet VA's definition of a compensable hearing loss disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA audiometric examination and ensuring all pertinent evidence is obtained.