Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VCAA notice and further development is required before adjudicating the veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a 20% rating, effective September 12, 2001.

The veteran's degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine are currently rated at 40 percent, effective January 1, 2002. The residuals of a fracture of the left femur with arthritis of the left hip remain at 20 percent. The hearing loss in the left ear is rated as noncompensable.

The case is being remanded due to issues with the veteran's mailing address and failure to appear for scheduled examinations. The appeal will be returned to the RO for further development.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 20 percent prior to January 16, 2007 and remains at that level from January 16, 2007. The current rating accurately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an initial compensable evaluation prior to December 8, 2006 or a rating in excess of 10 percent beginning December 8, 2006.

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing acuity, at worst, is Level II in the right ear and Level III in the left ear. The assigned noncompensable (zero percent) disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his combined rating is 70 percent and he does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on disability alone.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss requires additional development, including a VA audiogram compliant with 38 C.F.R. § 4.85 and an examination to determine if the veteran has current bilateral hearing loss and whether it is at least as likely as not causally linked to his military noise exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss did not increase in severity during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a current lung condition and denied the veteran's claim for service connection. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

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

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD and hearing loss were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The claim for PTSD was denied due to insufficient corroborated stressor events, while the claim for bilateral hearing loss did not result from service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for right arm and shoulder disabilities, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right ear tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 40 percent effective November 19, 2003.,From May 9, 2005, the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 80 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure leading to current disabilities.