Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a travel board hearing.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for nonservice-connected disability pension purposes due to his income exceeding the maximum annual limit set by law.

The veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied, and he does not have tinnitus that is related to military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating, as his hearing acuity did not exceed Level II in either ear.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for left knee condition, and service connection for gouty arthritis (claimed as gout in both large toes). The claim for service connection of dislocation of the right shoulder was denied due to lack of medical evidence relating the injury to service. New and material evidence has not been presented to reopen this claim.

The Board found that the reduction in the rating for bilateral hearing loss from 10 percent to 0 percent was proper, as evidenced by improved hearing levels. The service connection claims for flat feet and pseudofolliculitis barbae were denied.

The veteran's hearing loss is found to be related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current tinnitus is likely due to noise exposure during his military service. The issue of right ear hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded for further action.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, to include as secondary to service-connected malaria. The evidence did not show that the veteran's current hearing loss was caused or aggravated by his active service.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's level I hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

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

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining relevant records from Federal Health Services and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and evaluation of the veteran's hearing loss claim, as the current evidence is insufficient to determine whether it is related to service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals for increased ratings for tinnitus and shrapnel scars, as well as his request for a TDIU. The case is now pending on the issue of service connection for dizzy spells.