Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a right knee injury, and gynecological disorder including irregular menstrual periods.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, with a pure tone threshold average of 81 decibels in the right ear and 45 decibels in the left ear (numeric designation XI for the right ear and I for the left ear), does not warrant an initial or staged rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a scar on the back of his left leg, hepatitis, hearing loss, poor blood circulation, night sweats, and fatigue, were all granted. The effective date is not specified.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to noise exposure during his military service. The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to clarify the etiology of these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss did not warrant a compensable evaluation, and denied service connection for his low back disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and notification under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The case will be returned to the Board after this is completed.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining medical records. The case will be re-adjudicated after these steps.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, finding no evidence of current hearing loss and concluding that any potential link to service is not supported by the medical evidence.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his most recent VA audiological evaluation did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a staged rating of 20 percent from March 10, 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not warrant evaluations in excess of the currently assigned 10 percent ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The claim for an increased evaluation is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for numbness of the extremities, PTSD with depression, peptic ulcer disease, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus. The appeal regarding these issues is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a hysterectomy and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for various disabilities have been denied. The RO has granted service connection, but not the requested increased ratings or earlier effective dates.

The veteran's appeal in the matter of his hearing loss disability has been dismissed. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as there is no question of law or fact remaining before the Board.

The veteran's death was not the result of his own willful misconduct, and he had a combined schedular disability evaluation of 80% due to service-connected disabilities. However, he did not have a total disability rating for 10 years prior to his death, nor was he entitled to a total disability based on individual unemployability for 10 years prior to his death.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), were denied. The veteran was previously diagnosed with PTSD but the claim is considered new and material due to additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, a psychiatric disorder, and a thoracic spine disorder are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his period of active duty.