Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran does not have current disabilities related to his service, and therefore denied all of his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and an initial evaluation in excess of 0 percent for a left ear hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of current hearing loss disabilities as defined by VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to bursted ear drums, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability, hypertension, bronchitis, arthritis, and hearing loss. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral high frequency hearing loss, acne scars, tinnitus, and a shell fragment wound of the left calf, are found to be so severe that they prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as his hearing impairment is at no worse than Level III in the right ear and Level V in the left ear.

The Board has determined that the November 2003 rating decision, which granted service connection for left ear hearing loss with an effective date of August 12, 1996 (the date of the initial claim), did not contain clear and unmistakable error. The veteran's appeal is dismissed.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis C, migraines, skin disorder, DJD of the feet, lumbar spine DJD, right hip disability, and bilateral shin splints, were all denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if left ear hearing loss existed prior to service or was initially manifest during service or within one year thereof.

The VA determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than noncompensable for his hearing loss or a rating higher than 20 percent for his low back disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, and thus grants his claim for service connection.

The veteran's case is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiological examination to determine the current level of severity of his bilateral hearing loss. The issue will be reconsidered in light of all information or evidence received.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's symptoms started in service. Service connection for hip problems is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected diabetes and to determine the nature and etiology of several other claimed disabilities. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were denied as there is no legal basis to assign a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and the criteria for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss have not been met.