Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a retroactive effective date for tinnitus was denied.

The Board determined that recoupment of the veteran's separation pay in the amount of $24,039.94 is proper for his awards of disability compensation for bilateral hearing loss and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Board found that the veteran's left ear hearing loss did not manifest during service or for many years following service, and is not shown to be causally related to service. As a result, the claim of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied.

The Board has restored the veteran's 40 percent disability evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, effective from February 1, 2004.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service and denied the veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as not related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected, but it is uncertain whether his tinnitus is related to military service. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted and others are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus with diabetic neuropathy, hearing loss, coronary artery disease, and shortness of breath. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has reviewed all evidence, but found no current disabilities for hearing loss and tinnitus. The veteran's knee condition is also denied as there is no competent medical evidence of a current disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, residuals of a neck injury, hypertension, hepatitis A, left ear hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation based on his audiometric test results.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for another VA examination.

The veteran's initial compensable ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and left hip scar have been granted. The left hip scar is rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating available under current regulations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for general and special apportionments of his service-connected disability compensation payments, finding that he is not reasonably discharging his responsibility for support of his spouse or children, and that a special apportionment would cause undue hardship.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated during service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for hearing loss, otitis media, and tympanic membrane perforation of the right ear. The RO found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable disability evaluation criteria.

The veteran's claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for further evidence, including a VA audiometry examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing acuity did not warrant a compensable rating during the appeal period, as it was at Level IV in the right ear and Level II in the left ear.