Hearing loss decisions — 2007

Service connection was not granted for an anxiety disorder due to overlap with PTSD. Increased ratings were denied for lumbar strain, patellofemoral pain syndromes of both knees, and hearing loss of the left ear.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service. The effective dates for the grant of service connection for colon cancer and hypertension were also not granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria, and therefore denied his claim.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased initial evaluation for tinnitus was denied. The veteran is not entitled to a separate rating for each ear due to the current maximum schedular rating for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss do not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to issues not being addressed properly in previous decisions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and low back disorder are not related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss due to aggravation during active service, but dismissed the appeals regarding left knee disability and low back disability.

The veteran is seeking a higher disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The RO has granted him a 10% rating, but the veteran argues that this does not reflect the current severity of his condition and requests an increased evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no competent evidence of in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has decided that a new examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be returned for further review.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in the right ear, tinnitus, and bilateral otitis media and otitis externa were denied. The Board found no evidence of right ear hearing loss during service or within one year post-service, and did not find a nexus between current symptoms and service. Tinnitus was assigned a single 10% rating as it is perceived in both ears.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss before August 10, 2006 and an initial rating higher than 10 percent since that date.

The veteran's hearing loss disability does not warrant staged initial ratings in excess of 0 percent prior to November 26, 2004, 10 percent from November 26, 2004, and 20 percent from March 17, 2005.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss disability in his right ear, residuals of burns on his back, and a scar on his right tibia. The decisions were found to be final due to lack of timely appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and reopened the claim of service connection for tinnitus. The effective date for PTSD remains December 23, 1998.,An earlier effective date for PTSD is not possible as a matter of law.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation under any applicable rating code.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.