Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, as new and material evidence was presented. The claim will now be considered on its merits.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's current hearing loss disability is linked to noise exposure during his military service. Service connection was denied for tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, a skin disorder secondary to exposure to Agent Orange, and hearing loss. The VA found no evidence of these conditions in service or that they are related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric disorder are not related to service, but finds in favor of granting service connection for a psychiatric disorder based on a legal presumption due to its onset within one year of separation from service.

The Board granted the veteran's claims for an initial evaluation of 10 percent for a chronic left ankle sprain and denied his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current arthritis of major joints or bilateral high frequency hearing loss, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating than the current 50 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as the effective date of service connection for these conditions, were denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support granting an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss or a higher rating for his tinnitus. Additionally, it was determined that there is no legal basis to grant an earlier effective date than November 20, 2002 for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran did not have hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, or tinnitus during service or within one year of separation. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case back to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Member of the Board at the regional office.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss disability cannot be earlier than May 23, 2003 as there is no evidence showing a claim was filed prior to this date.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss based on new and material evidence submitted since the April 1991 denial. The matter is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the likelihood of the veteran's current hearing loss being related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee was also denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left ventricular hypertrophy, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, degenerative changes consistent with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis or gout of the left wrist, peripheral neuropathy affecting multiple extremities, and bilateral hearing loss, preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service and concluded that the current conditions are not related to military service. The veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The veteran meets the criteria for TDIU due to service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, which render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

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

The veteran's appeal for service connection for various conditions was denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss related to service, and thus denied his claim.