Hearing loss Board decisions

The veteran's right ear hearing loss claim was denied, but he received an effective date of August 1, 2001 for the award of service connection for lumbar strain, left hip bursitis, left knee tendonitis, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ear otitis media, perforation of the right ear tympanic membrane, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The highest possible rating has been assigned for each condition.

The veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, nasopharyngeal cancer, and right femur fracture were denied. The claim to reopen the bilateral hearing loss disability was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for nasopharyngeal cancer was not established as it is not related to service. The veteran's right femur fracture did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for chronic vertigo, effective from February 2002. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is already service-connected and not at issue in this decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sensorineural bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including exposure to noise during active duty. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and he is now service-connected for post-traumatic arthritis of the right ankle due to pre-existing healed fractures of the lower right tibia and fibula. The decision does not address his claims for residuals of fractures of the tibia and fibula or a right knee disability.

The veteran's asthma, hearing loss, and tinnitus were not shown to be related to his service. The Board denied the claims of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hand disorders, disorders of the feet, disorders of the back, a skin disorder (claimed as a boil), hearing loss, and PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to outstanding medical records and the need for a VA audiological evaluation.

The veteran's service records show he had complaints of double vision shortly after entering military service, which was corrected by surgery. His hearing loss during service is also documented. The case is being remanded for further examination and development.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is not shown to be at a severity level that warrants a compensable rating under VA criteria. As such, the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is causally related to his military service.,The Board has also determined that the veteran's tinnitus is causally related to his military service or is associated with his sensorineural hearing loss.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss.,Regarding the claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a sinus disability, the Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 30 percent for hallux rigidus with degenerative joint disease of the left great toe, effective from July 29, 2002. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and residuals of frozen feet, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.,Both conditions were initially denied on the basis that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen a previously denied claim. The Board's decision reopened these claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence linking his current hearing problems to his military service.

The Board has granted initial compensable ratings of 10% for bilateral hearing loss and sinusitis, but denied the claim for an initial rating for bilateral hallux valgus.

The Board finds that the veteran's Meniere's disease causes dizziness and loss of balance more than four times per month, with hearing loss and tinnitus. Therefore, a 100 percent disability rating is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a compensatory rating for bladder cancer prior to April 13, 2004 and after June 1, 2005. The RO/AMC should readjudicate these claims.