Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The VA determined that the veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his most recent audiometric evaluations did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus. The VA examiner opined that it is not likely that current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a perforated tympanic membrane of the left ear, and tinnitus. The Board found that the disabilities did not increase in severity during service or as a consequence of service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant an evaluation in excess of the currently assigned ratings for right ulnar nerve palsy, elbow fracture residuals, and bilateral hearing loss.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and thus grants a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. The evidence does not establish a nexus between any current left ear hearing loss disability and the veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss with paresis of the left auditory nerve does not warrant an increased initial rating in any period of time at issue.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as higher initial disability ratings for right and left ankle sprains. The veteran's current level of bilateral hearing acuity does not constitute a disability for which service connection can be granted under applicable VA regulations. Tinnitus was not incurred in active service. The schedular criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle sprain have not been met, and the schedular criteria for a disability rating of 20 percent for left ankle sprain have been met.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of a current disability and concluding that any left ear hearing loss is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss effective April 7, 2003. The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated and a 10% rating was granted.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated less than 100 percent disabling, and the combined evaluation of his multiple service-connected disabilities is 60 percent. The case is REMANDED for referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or after his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the validity of in-service stressors for PTSD, and to evaluate the veteran's claims related to hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is REMANDED for these purposes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his time in service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the etiology of the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, including whether they are related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss requires additional development, including obtaining missing service medical records and scheduling a VA audiological examination.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and REMANDED the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for status post right hip arthroplasty, claimed as secondary to service connected varicose veins of the left thigh and calf.