Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board has denied the claim of service connection for gouty arthritis involving the toes and knees. The application to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further development.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right ear hearing loss due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied a compensable rating prior to November 30, 2005, and a rating higher than 20 percent effective November 30, 2005, for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss is September 21, 2004.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated during his active military service from April 1966 to April 1968, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not due to noise exposure during his military service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA audiological examination.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, including combat exposure. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for right ear hearing loss prior to a decision being made.

The VA denied the appellant's requests for increased evaluations for organic heart disease manifested by atrial fibrillation and bilateral hearing loss disability, assigning a 60 percent rating for the former condition. The effective date is not specified.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied in January 2003. The Board found that the effective date should be October 1, 2003, as this is the later of when entitlement arose (March 2, 2004) or when the claim was received (October 1, 2003).

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss did not occur in service and is not due to any in-service events, including claimed noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a higher initial disability rating, as his audiometric test results do not meet criteria for an increased evaluation.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a back injury residuals or bilateral hearing loss disability, and thus the veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ear hearing loss and PTSD, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not warrant a compensable rating.

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not begin during service or within one year after separation, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim seeking an effective date prior to June 30, 2004 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to a missing earlier filed claim. The case will be readjudicated after any further development.