Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected psychosis is rated at 50%. The Board denied claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, as well as entitlement to TDIU due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The veteran's current disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss disability and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. For tinnitus, the Board noted exposure to noise in service but concluded that there was insufficient medical evidence linking the condition to service or post-service occupational noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board found no relationship between current hearing loss and service, thus denying the claim for bilateral hearing loss. For the rash claim, the Board determined that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected hearing loss does not warrant a higher initial disability rating, and thus denied the claim.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his generalized anxiety disorder and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The VA found that the combined rating of his service-connected conditions (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Right Wrist Shrapnel Injury, and Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss) did not meet the minimum schedular criteria for a T/R.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of February 5, 1999, for a 50 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss disability. The earliest-dated relevant evidence showing an increase in disability was dated within one year prior to June 23, 1999.

The veteran's claims for increased rating, reopening of a hearing loss claim, and service connection for left hip arthritis and knee arthritis were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's assertions that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied all claims, including those for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, as well as the service connection claim for a dental disability. The issue of reopening the previously denied claim for residuals of an injury to the back and legs was also denied.

The Board finds that the veteran currently does not have a chronic ear infection with drainage and has bilateral hearing loss related to active service. Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's claims for service connection for chronic bilateral hearing loss disability and post-operative left knee disabilities were denied. The veteran was granted service connection for his post-operative left knee disabilities, but the RO assigned noncompensable evaluations initially and later recharacterized them as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine if the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred or aggravated in service, and to evaluate whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current right ear hearing loss and service, nor did it find any evidence of a nexus between his low back disability and service. The claims were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not etiologically related to exposure to acoustic trauma in service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

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

The Board denied the veteran's requests for higher disability ratings for his service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the current ratings were appropriate based on the objective test results provided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, bilateral hearing loss and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are not related to service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and postoperative residuals of prostatectomy. The RO has requested additional medical records to support his claims, particularly those from the period between 1956 and 1960.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence submitted by the veteran.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have any of the claimed conditions due to service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.