Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain personnel records and determine if the veteran was exposed to noise during service, and to provide an examination to assess whether his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been productive of no more than Level II hearing acuity since the effective date of service connection, warranting a zero percent disability evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. However, a bilateral foot condition is found to be related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and dismissed his allegation of clear and unmistakable error in the rating decision of January 1948 which severed service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been granted. The effective date for the increased ratings is June 7, 2001. Additionally, the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU (Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability) remains pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, increased ratings for left hand disability and hearing loss, and a compensable rating for hemorrhoids were denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service onset or aggravation of these conditions.

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

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by Level IV hearing acuity in the right ear, and Level II hearing acuity in the left ear. The Board has granted an initial 10 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's kidney donation during active duty for training (ADT) may be considered a line of duty injury, and he is granted service connection for residuals of left nephrectomy. The other claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, first manifested many years after service, is not related to his active military service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a causal link between the veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current hearing loss or tinnitus, thus denying service connection for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right ear hearing loss. The case is being remanded to assign an initial rating for the now service-connected right ear hearing loss and to readjudicate the claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for the left ear hearing loss.

The veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection were denied. The VA rating schedule does not provide for an evaluation higher than 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus, which the veteran already has a 10 percent rating.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disorder, finding no evidence of current disabilities or causation related to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 10% evaluation.