Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and a 20 percent rating for right carpal tunnel syndrome. The claim for tinnitus was denied, as the evidence did not support its onset during active service. Service connection for low back disability is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing loss did not warrant a compensable rating for the period from March 19, 2002 to April 19, 2005.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, hypertension at noncompensable, and bilateral hearing loss at noncompensable. The initial evaluations for all conditions are granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the veteran, and the RO must consider this evidence in its decision on service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found that new evidence submitted since the April 2000 rating decision does not establish service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but did not rule out a possible link to in-service noise exposure. The claim remains pending as it is considered 'mixed' due to some issues being granted and others not.

The Board has remanded the case due to the veteran's request for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and asbestosis are still pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date of October 23, 2002, for his grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision states that the proper effective date is the date of the reopened claim, which was October 23, 2002.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and determined that there is sufficient evidence to establish a current disability, but not enough to link it directly to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims of service connection for frozen feet and migraine headaches.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing due to his failure to appear at the scheduled hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen a claim for service connection for hearing loss are still pending.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, currently rated at 10 percent, does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hemorrhoids do not warrant a compensable rating, as his current hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a non-compensable disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss is due to noise exposure during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His initial claim for bilateral hearing loss was granted with a noncompensable evaluation, but his subsequent claim for an increased rating was also denied. Service connection was not established for the residuals of ear infection, strep throat, or nasopharyngitis.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient probative value of the VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's left ear hearing loss. The case will be reviewed again with further examination and consideration.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed inner ear conditions, including hearing loss and tinnitus, were not incurred in service or are not related to a service-connected disability. The claim for vertigo/balance problems was also denied.

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 for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss.