Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board remands the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type 2; hypertension; PTSD; and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss to the RO for further development.

The veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, while the claims for bilateral hearing loss and right knee condition are denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, while severe, do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disorder, dizziness, hearing loss, back disorder, and bilateral hand disorder were denied as there was no evidence of chronic disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his period of active service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection. The veteran's claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including otitis externa, muscle injuries, and scars, have been denied.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as the veteran's original claim was received on August 5, 2002.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent due to symptoms of suicidal ideation, depression, chronic sleep impairment with nightmares, poor concentration and unprovoked irritability with history of assault resulting in total social and occupational impairment. The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not related to his active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence supporting a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for seasonal allergies, acute allergic rhinitis, a chronic gynecological disorder, a chronic or recurrent kidney infection, and bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's pes planus was found to be pre-existing and not aggravated by her military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and headaches were denied as the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or hypertension due to service, and there was no sufficient evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, but the case is being remanded to obtain a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and right knee scar, status post lateral shrapnel injury.

The veteran's chronic tinnitus was granted service connection, while his chronic bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability was denied.

The Board granted the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but remanded the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar disc syndrome and a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a left ankle fracture for further development.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including VCAA notice and a current VA examination to assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support a compensable rating.

The veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not related to his military service and cannot be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the current disabilities were not shown to be related to active service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is not productive of a compensable rating.