Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as these conditions are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the current severity of the veteran's conditions. The issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea are also being addressed.

The veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are currently rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations, so any further increase is not warranted.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. Effective date claims were also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for scars on the right and left thigh was granted, with a 10% evaluation assigned. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains unresolved.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and residuals of cold weather injury to both hands, necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance. The Board finds that he is in such a state as to require this assistance.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and issuing a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) on the issue of an increased rating for schizoaffective disorder.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing assistance due to their severity and nature.

The veteran's claim for a 100% rating for sickle cell disease was granted effective January 2001, but the Board found no legal basis to grant an earlier effective date.,Service connection for hearing loss was granted effective May 14, 2001, and the Board found no legal basis to grant an earlier effective date.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of any earlier unadjudicated formal or informal claims and that the effective date should be from the date entitlement arose.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in the right ear, high cholesterol, and increased ratings for arthritis of the shoulder, knee, and ankle were denied. The RO found that these conditions are not related to service or military noise exposure.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for otitis media and hearing loss of the left ear due to a lack of current diagnosis and evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and there is no legal basis for a higher evaluation. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for a skin rash, including as due to Agent Orange exposure. The RO had previously denied these claims in August 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for which service connection can be granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have right ear hearing loss or tinnitus attributable to his period of service. The skin disorder is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of a timely substantive appeal following the issuance of the June 1995 statement of case. The Board found that his December 20, 1995 submission was not timely filed.