Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a right knee injury, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations under VA rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss, as there has been an objective decrease in acuity since his last examination.

The Board found no connection between the veteran's current mild hearing impairment or tinnitus and her period of service. Neither disability was manifest during service, and secondary service connection for leukemia treatment was also denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus being related to service. The veteran's separation examination was normal, and post-service medical records do not link his current conditions to service.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected hearing loss disability is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a lumbar spine disorder were all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent for chronic motion sickness associated with bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's symptoms include occasional dizziness and staggering.

The Board has determined that the veteran meets the criteria for service connection for right ear hearing loss, which was incurred during active duty.

The veteran's request for a hearing before the Board at the RO has been granted, and he must be scheduled for a video hearing.

The Board found that the veteran does not have tinnitus and denied his claim for service connection. The initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, but the issue of an increased rating remains pending.

The Board finds that service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is not granted for defective vision, left eye disability, hyperlipidemia, tonsillitis, upper respiratory disability, headaches, bilateral foot disability, pharyngitis, left thumb and wrist disabilities, bronchitis, right elbow disability, or residuals of a laceration of the left forehead.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss of the right ear does not warrant a compensable rating, as his current level of hearing acuity is no worse than Level I (essentially normal).

The veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and spine disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service. The Board also noted that the veteran's left ear hearing loss existed prior to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral tinnitus is not related to service, and denied his claim for service connection. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish a direct relationship between the veteran's current bilateral elbow disabilities and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, and service connection is granted for these conditions.

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. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 22, 2004 for the grant of a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of evidence showing that the veteran filed an informal claim prior to November 2004 or that his service-connected disabilities underwent an increase in severity within one year prior to November 2004.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and analysis regarding his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The examiner will need to determine the etiology of these conditions, considering both military service exposure and any current symptoms.