Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted, as new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the previously denied claim. The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss had its onset during active service.

The veteran's service-connected GERD is not manifested by persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by substernal or arm or shoulder pain, and is not productive of considerable health impairment. The veteran's claimed right ventricular conduction relay was not incurred during active service. Bilateral pes planus and bilateral hearing loss were also not incurred during active service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus as the conditions were not attributable to active service, nor first manifest within one year of separation from active service.

The Board denied service connection for a kidney disability, hypertension, colon disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active duty.

The Board granted a higher rating of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and DDD of the lumbar spine, effective November 16, 2007. The claim was denied for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, tinnitus, and hypertension.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence is against the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes cavus and denied higher initial ratings for lumbar spine strain, left hand fifth finger fracture, right ear hearing loss, left wrist condition, left knee condition, left ankle condition, and exercise induced bronchospasm.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss was remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his disability.

The veteran was granted a 50 percent initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, effective from March 4, 1998.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing as requested by the veteran.

The Board remanded the claim for a VA audiometric examination to determine if the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service.

The appeal is remanded for further development and a comprehensive medical examination to address the veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and coronary artery disease.

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

The veteran is entitled to a higher 30 percent rating for his imbalance and dizziness, but no greater. He is not entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic otitis media, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims, and no medical nexus between the claimed conditions and service was established.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss, as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current medical findings.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting left ear hearing loss did not increase in severity during service, and there was no evidence of a current disability related to right ear hearing loss. The claims for sinusitis and low back pain were reopened based on new and material evidence.

The veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine at L5-S1 and bilateral hearing loss do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and bilateral hearing loss, as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.