Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for hemorrhoids and also did not grant an increased rating for his hearing loss.

The veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records from May 2007 to the present.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately following service. The VA examiner found the most likely etiology for the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus was age-related factors (presbycusis).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for service-connected left ear otitis media and sensorineural hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of active drainage or suppuration in his left ear.

The Board finds that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service. The VA audiologist indicated that the tinnitus is less likely than not due to military noise exposure, while the private physician suggested a possible connection between tinnitus and military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's failure to cooperate during VA examinations prevented a determination of his current hearing impairment severity. As a result, no compensable disability rating can be assigned for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the clinical test results do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to an effective date earlier than May 18, 2004 for TDIU. The RO assigned TDIU on a schedular basis as of May 18, 2004.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise with regard to these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria, and therefore denied his claim for an initial compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for new and material evidence to reopen his left hip disability claim. The TDIU claim was also denied as he did not meet the percentage requirements set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board found no evidence of a current disability for any of the claimed conditions and denied service connection for all issues.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus. The veteran's current left ear hearing loss is not considered to be related to his military service, while the tinnitus may be linked to noise exposure in service or associated with his service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The case is remanded due to the inconsistency in audiometric test results, and a new VA examination is required to determine if the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The veteran has withdrawn their appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by Level III hearing acuity, bilaterally. The Board finds that an initial compensable evaluation for this condition is not warranted.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore denies his claim of service connection.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent prior to February 27, 2008 and 60 percent from that date. The Board has denied a higher rating for the condition.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues include reopening a claim for right ear hearing loss, rating left ear hearing loss, and increasing the initial rating for duodenal ulcer and duodenitis.