Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The claim of service connection for Eustachian tube dysfunction has been reopened, but the claim remains denied. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claim of service connection for hypertension is remanded for further development.

The veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current tinnitus, hearing loss, muscle spasms, leg disability, right upper extremity disability, or right hip disability to his military service. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to missing service medical records and incomplete treatment history. The claims will be further developed before being decided.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and the competent medical evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began in service. The veteran's current psychiatric disability is also not linked to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case back to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination of the veteran's lower back condition. The claims for service connection will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss warrants a disability rating of 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available. Therefore, an increased initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right ear hearing loss is related to a jet blast during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to be related to service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for rheumatoid arthritis and service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, a low back disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings in various service-connected disabilities were denied. The right knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to November 12, 2004 and 30 percent from January 1, 2006. Other conditions had their respective ratings either unchanged or not addressed.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of hearing loss and low back disorder.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no medical evidence linking current hearing loss to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated at a combined 80 percent, which is sufficient to warrant a TDIU rating. The effective date for the hearing loss with otitis media and chronic catarrhal remains unchanged.

The Board has reopened the veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic otitis media. Bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to service, while tinnitus was also linked to service.

The veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA audiometric examination.

The veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be caused by exposure to noise during service, leading to a grant of service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were granted. He was assigned a 10 percent evaluation for each condition effective from February 8, 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the left ankle and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and private treatment records. The veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a cardiovascular disorder will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.