Hearing loss decisions — 2008

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

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims seeking service connection for hypertension and arthritis, but denied an increased rating for PTSD.

The veteran's left ankle strain does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran was denied a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, but the effective date of service connection for tinnitus was set to March 21, 2003.

The veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, drug and alcohol abuse, hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus (including as due to Agent Orange exposure), glaucoma, and a sinus disability were denied.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric disability, residuals of shell fragment wounds to the face and right elbow, interstitial cystitis, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes mellitus, prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

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

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied, as was his claim for a higher initial rating for coronary artery disease. The Board also denied the claims for an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus.

The Board remands the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA compensation examination to determine if the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, and a bilateral foot disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence was in equipoise as to whether the veteran's current hearing loss stemmed from acoustic trauma sustained during combat-related service.

The case is remanded for additional development, including the issuance of an SOC and obtaining any recent treatment records from the Jackson, Mississippi VAMC.

The Board finds that the evidence is, at least, in equipoise and grants service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board found that the veteran had submitted new and material evidence to reopen a claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied the claim on the merits. The claim for tinnitus was not reopened.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection were denied as the evidence did not support the claims.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left ear otitis media was denied as the maximum schedular rating had already been assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as there was no evidence of a disability related to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of his claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder condition, left and right knee conditions, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded for further development.