Hearing loss decisions — 2007

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left ear hearing loss has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of tinnitus or bilateral hearing loss, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain service medical records and other pertinent evidence, including from the appellant's military unit in Vietnam. The claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin disorders are also being remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating for right knee degenerative joint disease and TDIU, but found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in a prior decision denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran is currently rated at 10% for his right knee condition.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for a psychiatric disability. The veteran's skin and hearing loss were also denied as there was no medical opinion linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for recurrent positional vertigo of vestibular origin, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there is no legal basis to assign a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of traumatic arthritis or bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions of pulmonary tuberculosis, hearing loss, kidney disease, poor vision, and asthma were not incurred or aggravated during service. The claims are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for autoimmune hemolytic anemia/cold agglutinin, peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus and herbicide exposure, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus due to herbicide exposure. The decision was based on lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus the veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Board found that it is not factually ascertainable that the veteran's service-connected disabilities caused individual unemployability prior to November 19, 2002. Therefore, an earlier effective date for a TDIU rating is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA audiological examination to reassess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss and supplemental notice regarding disability rating and effective date elements.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with the hearing loss being aggravated by service and tinnitus being incurred in service.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable or increased rating under VA regulations.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his hearing impairment is at non-compensable levels.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, including a need for another VA examination.