Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including gastrointestinal, hearing loss, left wrist, left ankle, and skin conditions were denied.

The Board found that no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine strain, schizophrenia, right ear hearing loss, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, or fibromyositis. The effective dates for increased disability ratings were also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service treatment records, particularly those from January 1966 onwards. The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and bilateral inguinal hernias are on appeal, as well as reopening of claims for hearing loss and hypertension.

The Veteran's lower back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and he has been granted service connection for right hip and left hip disabilities. He was denied service connection for hearing loss in the right ear but his claim of reopening a previously denied claim for hearing loss in the left ear remains pending.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issues of service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, and a skin rash to the hands.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of mononucleosis, and psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of current disability related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, hemorrhoids, varicose veins of the right leg, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as he withdrew these claims prior to the decision. The initial disability rating for a left knee disorder remains at 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear audiometric results and a need for additional examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are held in abeyance during this process.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, Meniere's disease, and vertigo. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's hearing loss began during service or is related to service. The tinnitus is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss renders him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and melanoma are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied these claims. The claim for PTSD was also denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left foot and ankle disorder, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities meeting VA criteria or sufficient continuity of symptoms to establish service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and an earlier effective date for his radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have been denied. The current rating of 10% is appropriate since August 21, 2007.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board, as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's disability was manifested by level IV hearing in the right ear and level V hearing in the left ear based on testing in September 2007. The effective date remains as of the date of the informal claim of April 27, 2007.