Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding no medical evidence linking his current condition to any remote incident of service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO granted a 20% rating for bilateral hearing loss, but denied the rest of his claims.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, and colon polyps were granted. The claims for bowel obstruction, exposure to asbestos, shingles, and chest pain are not on appeal.

The Board has granted a separate rating of 10 percent for a left leg scar, effective December 23, 2003. The claim for an increased initial rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded for additional development.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, frostbite of the feet, and tinnitus, are found to be sufficient to render him unemployable.

The veteran's claims for service connection for equilibrium dysfunction, increased rating for hemorrhoids, and compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of partial stomach removal is pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be decided.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent, as his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to procedural issues, and the case will be reviewed for service connection of bilateral hearing loss. The other two claims related to tinnitus and chronic otitis media are not yet ripe for appellate review.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development of records and an examination. The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal, effectively dismissing the case.

The veteran's initial claim for service connection for TMJ disorder was denied. The RO also granted service connection for a low back injury with a noncompensable rating effective May 1, 2003. However, the Board has remanded this issue due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's congenital bilateral spondylolysis was incurred in active service and is granted. The issue of an initial evaluation for GERD with probable IBS, recurrent aphthous ulcers, and rectal bleeding will be remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board denied the veteran's petitions to reopen his final disallowed claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no new and material evidence that would support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied the claim. The issue of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder was remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the claimed stressors.

The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to the veteran's service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since the grant of service connection in July 2004. The Board found that this rating is appropriate based on the audiometric findings.