Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status. The veteran's current tinnitus was not found to be related to his active military service, and he is not considered helpless or bedridden due to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not met the criteria for an initial or staged compensable rating since February 12, 1998.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and mild lumbar strain. However, it was not established that these conditions were aggravated by military service or related to any in-service event.

The Board denied claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for a compensable evaluation for the right foot fracture was also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been received. The de novo claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss will be addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The VA denied service connection for hearing loss in the left ear, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and insufficient medical opinion linking it to service.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was found to be noncompensable prior to October 1, 2004 and a 10 percent evaluation after that date. The Board denied both the request for a compensable evaluation before October 1, 2004 and an increased rating thereafter.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and denied reopening his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed because he had died during the pendency of his case.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are disorders of service origin, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic symptoms within one year post-service. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions are more likely due to natural aging process and other health problems.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA audiological examination to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss is attributable to service, while his right ear hearing loss may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD with anxiety reaction, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a compensable rating or any increase in rating.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss for VA purposes and denied the claim based on secondary service connection. The PTSD claim is remanded as there is conflicting medical evidence regarding a diagnosis.

The veteran is seeking service connection for chronic bilateral hearing loss disability and chronic tinnitus, which he claims are related to his military service. The VA has not obtained all relevant medical records and will need to conduct further examinations and obtain additional information before making a decision on the claim.

The veteran's claim for service connection was received on June 16, 1993. The Board found that the effective date should be set at June 16, 1993 as it is later than when entitlement arose (prior to discharge from service).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and malaria due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.