Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not constitute an employment handicap, and therefore he is not entitled to vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31 of Title 38, United States Code.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and the need for additional evidence, including a report of an MRI study.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted with an effective date of July 13, 1995.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were denied as there is no legal basis to assign a schedular evaluation in excess of the current noncompensable rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis C, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left knee disorder, and low back disorder have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep impairment, short-term memory loss, and cervical ribs. The other claims have been denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus in July 2007. The claim was not reopened, and both conditions were found to be unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between any in-service disease or injury and his current conditions. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The VA denied a compensable evaluation for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that his average pure tone threshold did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The VA is remanding the case to obtain missing service records and possibly conduct a medical examination. The appellant's claim for service connection for his hearing loss will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for left ear otitis media and hearing loss, finding that no new and material evidence had been presented.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have hearing loss in either ear, and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his audiometric test results do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claim can be adjudicated, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine if the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service.

The veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the effective date of his award is set at November 20, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses for several of his claimed conditions, and thus service connection is denied. The remaining claims are also denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and issuing a supplemental SOC. The claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the elbows is also being remanded.

The case is being remanded for further evaluation of the veteran's hearing loss and PTSD claims, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting new examinations.