Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss by VA standards and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The veteran's hearing loss disability is manifested by no more than Level I hearing loss in the right ear and no more than Level II hearing loss in the left ear, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss warranted a noncompensable rating based on the July 2003 and July 2004 audiometric evaluations.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with the effective date being April 19, 2005. The hearing loss and PTSD conditions received their respective increases to 10 percent and 70 percent ratings from that date onwards. For his feet, he was granted a 20 percent rating for traumatic arthritis of the right foot as of May 16, 2005, and a 30 percent rating for traumatic arthritis of the left foot starting from September 27, 2000.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current right ear hearing loss is related to his period of active military service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The veteran's service connection claim for status post septoplasty is granted. The appeals regarding right foot strain, bilateral hearing loss, and increased rating for lumbar spine strain are dismissed.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The case has been remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination and additional VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus are due to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's hearing loss disability, including whether it is related to active service or post-service noise exposure.

The VA determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not occur during service and is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore service connection is denied. However, the veteran was found to have bilateral plantar fasciitis that is causally related to service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify his unit of assignment during service and to obtain medical opinions regarding the claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and is not etiologically related to service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been denied. The RO confirmed the current 10 percent evaluation for retropatellar syndrome of the left knee, but did not address his claim regarding depression.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, attributing it to noise exposure during military service.

The Board found no etiological relationship between the veteran's service and his current bilateral hearing loss, thus denying service connection for this condition. The tinnitus was also denied as it is due to acoustic trauma incurred in service.

The Board has determined that service connection should be granted for bilateral hearing loss and headaches, but not for a bilateral eye disability due to the lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his active service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, fungal infection of the skin, respiratory disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (post-traumatic stress disorder), memory loss, and chronic respiratory disorder. The veteran's irritable bowel syndrome was granted service connection with a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no competent medical evidence relating his current disability to his military service or the one-year presumptive period thereafter.