Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a disability rating of no more than 40 percent, as his most severe hearing impairment does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under VA's schedular guidelines. The appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VCAA notice and other procedural issues. The veteran's claims for service connection for a duodenal ulcer, hypertension, tinnitus, and hearing loss are being reviewed.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or being housebound is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his physical condition.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a 70 percent disability rating, effective September 25, 2003. The claim for TDIU is granted.

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

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to lack of credible supporting evidence regarding the claimed in-service stressors. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral tinnitus was remanded.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss during service and concluded that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and disabilities of the wrists, knees, and ankles. The claim for hearing loss was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. For the wrist, knee, and ankle conditions, there is no competent medical evidence showing that these conditions are related to service or any incident therein.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of increased ratings for coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, and GERD, as well as service connection for low back pain, are pending.

The Board found that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his active service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The VA examiner concluded that the veteran's symptoms are more likely not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current sinusitis, back disability, or bilateral hearing loss disability. The service connection claims for these conditions are denied.

The veteran's claim for accrued benefits was denied as the claim had not been pending at the time of his death. The cause of death was alcohol-related, and service connection for the cause of death could not be established due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between the veteran's service-connected conditions and his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus and service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's bilateral pes planus was found to be only moderate, not warranting a higher evaluation. His bilateral hearing loss did not meet VA criteria for disability.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss of the right ear was not incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest in service and is not related to injury or disease in service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for head injury residuals and bilateral broken hips, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and military service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not rated higher than the maximum allowed under VA regulations, resulting in a denial of his claims for accrued benefits.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation.