Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current hearing loss or a left leg disorder, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability warranted a 20 percent rating effective November 14, 2003. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied.

The veteran's duodenal ulcer with GERD is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher evaluation of 30 percent is warranted.,The issues of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, entitlement to service connection for hearing loss, and entitlement to service connection for tinnitus are all marked as 'unknown'.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, finding that his death was not caused by a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied. The RO assigned noncompensable and 10 percent evaluations, respectively, for bilateral hearing loss and left hand frostbite residuals.

The veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or low back disability for VA compensation purposes. The claim for service connection is denied. For his chronic low back disability, additional development is needed as the evidence is insufficient to determine whether it had its origin during active military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records and further review.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for malaria and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran did not have a diagnosed disability of malaria in service, and there is no competent medical evidence of current disability. For his bilateral hearing loss, the VA examination opinions found no functional impairment.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not occur in service or due to military noise exposure, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's left ear hearing loss is not service-connected, and his keratosis pilaris (presumed to be secondary to Agent Orange exposure) is also not service-connected. The right ear hearing loss claim is pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a back disorder, dental problems, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The medical evidence does not support these claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and a right foot disability have been reopened. The claim of service connection for Meniere's syndrome is not addressed in the decision. The case is being remanded to obtain Social Security Administration records, further evaluate the right foot disability, and schedule a VA audiological evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated during active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss due to new and material evidence, but it remains denied as there is no medical opinion linking current hearing loss disability to service.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for asbestosis with severe combined ventilatory impairment and mild room air hypoxia was proper. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and a bilateral foot disorder characterized by corns and calluses is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for any of the assigned disability ratings in the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to recent medical records and examinations.