Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to service and denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and the need for additional evidence, including a VA examination for hearing loss.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for a right hip disability, finding that there was no evidence of worsening or direct service connection. The claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was also denied.,The veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as level III under the VA Rating Schedule.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not show a worsening of his hearing loss, skull fracture with headaches, or left thumb scar.

The veteran's initial evaluations for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment or a higher evaluation based on the current criteria.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for the veteran's right ear hearing loss, finding that his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and ulcers, as well as his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between the veteran's current right ear hearing loss and his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and further examination is required before service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be determined.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss in service and no competent evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss to his period of active service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus had their onset during active service, and thus granted service connection for these conditions.

The VA has granted an initial compensable evaluation of 10 percent for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, effective May 27, 2003.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The medical opinion provided in April 2004 supports a possible nexus between the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his service, including an explosion during combat.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the left knee, finding that the evidence did not warrant a rating in excess of the current evaluations.

The Board finds that the veteran has a current diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder related to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a medical nexus between the veteran's hearing loss and his service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for trochanteric bursitis of the left hip, finding no evidence to establish current hearing loss or a disability that meets VA criteria. The veteran is also not entitled to a higher initial rating for her left hip condition.