Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The veteran's left ear hearing loss is considered to have been aggravated by exposure to acoustic trauma during his military service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection due to insufficient notification and development of evidence, including obtaining service personnel records and arranging for a VA audiological and ear, nose, and throat examination.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for bilateral pes planus, the maximum schedular evaluation available. The claim for left ear hearing loss remains at zero percent (noncompensable).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for asthma, hemorrhoids, and right ear hearing loss. The VA found that none of these conditions warranted a rating greater than the current assigned ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hernia, insect bites, and hearing loss. The claim for PTSD was granted with an effective date of December 31, 2002. The TDIU claim was also granted with an effective date of December 31, 2002.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be earlier than May 25, 2004, as there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service prior to that date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied both claims.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not due to noise exposure in service, warranting service connection for both conditions.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss disability does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 10 percent assigned.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's hearing loss and his military service. The veteran needs to undergo another VA audiological evaluation with all relevant medical records in hand.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, heart condition, lung condition, and visual impairment as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a compensable level of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and his claim for service connection for this condition is denied. For his residuals of a bulging disc at L5-S1, the Board finds that the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, left index finger fracture residuals, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, frostbite residuals, gastrointestinal disorder, and otitis media.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and his initial compensable evaluation claim was also denied. The decision did not address the issue of exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange).

The Board found no evidence of hypertension or hypertensive cardiovascular disease in service, and the current disabilities are not linked to active service. The back disability is also not linked to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, and a gastrointestinal disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.