Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and bilateral hearing loss, as well as an increased rating for his left ring finger disability. The decision found no evidence of a current disability or persistent symptoms associated with these conditions during service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss before and after February 3, 2007 was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 20 percent before February 3, 2007 or higher than 40 percent from that date.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, with a noncompensable (0%) rating effective from October 5, 2005.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. The Board also found no relationship between current tinnitus and military noise exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's current right ear hearing loss did not manifest during service and is not related to his service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss of the right ear and tinnitus, but denied service connection for hearing loss of the left ear. The veteran's hearing loss in the right ear is found to be related to his military service, while there is no evidence of a hearing loss disability in the left ear meeting VA criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset during active service, were not related to his active service, and are not compensable disabilities.

The veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for aortic stenosis, loss of vision, left ear hearing loss, and impotence as a consequence of aortobifemoral bypass heart surgery at a VA medical facility on March 27, 1997. The case is being remanded to determine the cause of these disabilities.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent effective November 27, 2007. Prior to this date, the disability did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable on an extraschedular basis, and thus denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection or an initial compensable rating for his hearing loss conditions. The evidence does not support a finding of nexus between current hearing loss and military service, and there is no indication of aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss, finding that no earlier effective dates are warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of hearing loss during service and no continuity of symptomatology. The examiner concluded that the veteran's hearing loss is sensorineural in nature and not caused by impacted cerumen.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's headaches are found to have had its onset during active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further action, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 7, 2004, for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The VA determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in active service or due to any incident therein, as there was no evidence of such conditions during his military service.