Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not have a causal nexus to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for consideration of whether the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to service, including acoustic trauma. The special monthly compensation claim will also be readjudicated.

The Board finds that the veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service grenade explosion, and thus grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied service connection for residuals of cold injury to the hands and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of current disability evidence.

The veteran's claim for a separate rating for each ear for his service-connected tinnitus must be denied under DC 6260, as in effect both prior and subsequent to June 13, 2003. The Board concludes that the version of DC 6260 in effect prior to June 2003 precludes an evaluation in excess of a single 10 percent for tinnitus.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional notice under 38 U.S.C.A. § 5103(a).

The veteran's need for aid and attendance was not found to be due to service-connected disabilities, resulting in a denial of accrued benefits.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the unavailability of service medical records and the need for further examination and opinion regarding the veteran's claimed bilateral knee condition and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and a compensable rating of 10% for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's migraine headaches are presumed to have been incurred in active service, while his bilateral hearing loss is rated based on the severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back disorder is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking his current condition to his in-service injury. The claim for bilateral hearing loss and right hand fracture will be remanded for further development.

The veteran's PTSD is granted as it is linked to his combat service in the Korean War. The claims for stomach disability, hearing loss, right eye injury residuals, and cold injuries to bilateral lower extremities are remanded due to lack of available service records.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a kidney disability with hypertension related to his military service, including as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of a prior informal or formal claim within one year of the initial receipt of his June 21, 2002 informal claim. The effective date remains February 20, 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. As such, the claims for service connection are denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran requires regular personal care assistance from another person due to his service-connected disabilities, and therefore grants special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance. The issue of service connection for a low back disability is dismissed as the veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and right knee conditions, as well as his claim for TDIU benefits. The RO continued the current disability ratings of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss and 10 percent for right knee arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, post-operative residuals of a right knee injury, and dental trauma. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is due to noise exposure in service. His tinnitus and PTSD are also related to service.,Hypertension and acid reflux disease were not shown during service or as a result of service.