Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's tinnitus and right ear hearing loss are found to be service-connected. The left ear hearing loss is not service-connected.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated in service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during service. The left knee disorder is also not considered to be related to service due to lack of pre-service abnormality noted at enlistment.

The Board found that the veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 6100, which corresponds to Level XI hearing acuity. The evidence did not support a higher rating as his right ear hearing was also not service-connected and did not meet the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.385.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with mild spinal stenosis and bilateral pes planus, tinnitus, and sensorineural hearing loss, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss do not warrant increased ratings. The claim for service connection for vertigo is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability causally related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, as they were incurred due to exposure to noise during active service. The degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is also service-connected based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board's decision denying service connection for hearing loss of the right ear was affirmed by a court, making it ineligible for revision on the grounds of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, increased disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence did not support a finding that his current conditions were related to military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was granted as of June 10, 1964.,The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of factual ascertainability during the year preceding July 10, 1995.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, scar tissue on the eardrums, balance problems (claimed as secondary to ear disability), and nasal obstruction, status post septoplasties. The Board found that there is no current evidence of these conditions in service or their relationship to service.

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

The veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, and he did not meet the legal requirements for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his hearing levels do not meet the criteria for any higher rating under the applicable VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiology examination and notification regarding effective dates.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a travel board hearing due to the veteran's request. The appeal is also remanded for additional development or other appropriate action.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hearing loss, a bilateral knee disorder, a neck disorder, and a bilateral shoulder disorder due to additional development being necessary.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted by the Board in December 2003, but an effective date prior to December 11, 2000 is denied.,No earlier effective dates are granted as the earliest claim was filed on December 11, 2000.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities, including a psychiatric disability rated at 50%, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. Additionally, he requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

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