Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and low back disability have been denied. The veteran's low back disability is rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for another VA audiological examination. His claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was granted in a separate decision and is not before the Board.

The Board found no evidence of a causal link between the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and his military service, including acoustic trauma. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to report for scheduled hearings and examinations. The RO will schedule a new hearing at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently suffer from bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral eye condition, or a lung condition. The claims for service connection have been denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's death prevented the issuance of a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance and necessary adaptive equipment, as his claim was pending at the time of his death.

The veteran's substantive appeal was not timely filed with respect to the May 2003 rating decision, and as a result, his appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus. The examiner opined that any current hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without providing adequate explanation or good cause.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the veteran's diagnosis is linked to a verified in-service stressor of visiting Nazi concentration camps. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to active service, while his postoperative residuals of lumbosacral spondylosis, right knee disability, and left knee disability may be linked to service. The claims for these conditions remain denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, postoperative residuals of coronary artery disease, and a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and anxiety), as well as his claim for an increased rating for right ear hearing loss. The April 1975 denial of service connection for left ear hearing loss is final.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as it did not meet the criteria for an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for traumatic arthritis, residual of a left ankle fracture, is pending.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current hearing impairment as defined by VA regulations, and there is no medical evidence linking his tinnitus or ear infections to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed, including VA outpatient treatment records for hearing loss and tinnitus. The veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal regarding the propriety of severing service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for nonservice-connected pension. The decision found that the evidence did not support severance of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar disc disease with right side sciatica and diabetes mellitus. The veteran is precluded from obtaining and maintaining any form of gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background, as the VA audiologist found that they would not interfere with his ability to maintain employment.