Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable disability rating at any point during the pendency of this appeal.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and otitis media. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.,Regarding the left knee condition, further medical evaluation is necessary.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 50% and has been increased to 70%. Bilateral hearing loss was denied. The decision reflects a mixed outcome as the PTSD rating was granted but not the hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected L5-S1 degenerative disc disease and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his claims based on presumed exposure to cold temperatures during service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for dermatitis, an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and osteoarthritis of the midfoot, and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for mixed hearing loss of the right ear with sensorineural hearing loss of the left ear.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active military service.

The Board found no evidence of a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The right ear was shown to have hearing loss, but the claim was also denied as there was no clear and unmistakable evidence that the hearing loss pre-existed service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, a left foot disorder, and a right foot disorder. The claim for a left ear hearing loss disability was also denied as there is no current disability established.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, seizure disorder, and bilateral ear condition, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not establish continuity of symptomatology after service for any of these conditions.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss to his military service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further action, including scheduling VA examinations and adjudicating increased rating claims and secondary service connection claims. The TDIU claim will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD need further development to corroborate stressors and obtain medical opinions regarding their etiology. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, recurrent tinnitus (to include whether a separate rating for each ear is warranted), and left otitis media, status post mastoidectomy were denied. The Board found no legal basis for the assignment of separate schedular 10 percent disability ratings for bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disorders, and residuals of encephalitis (including a seizure disorder) as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an extraschedular rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as the evidence did not show that the disability presented such an exceptional or unusual picture with factors like frequent periods of hospitalization or marked interference with employment.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated by his active duty service. The preexisting hearing loss noted at entrance to service was considered, and no permanent clinical aggravation during service is established.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus between current hearing loss and tinnitus and military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and that any such disability is not related to active service.