Hearing loss Board decisions

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development, including medical examinations and a nexus opinion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant an initial compensable rating since August 1, 2000.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his right shoulder disability and service connection for skin condition, joints pain, memory loss, hearing loss, impotency, hypertension, right inguinal lymphoma, back condition, major depressive disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, and Peyronie's disease. The evidence does not support the veteran's claims as these conditions are not related to his military service.

The RO denied the veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable rating for his left ring finger fracture residuals, post-operative left wrist disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and chronic headaches.

The veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to insufficient evidence in the VA audiological examinations. The RO must provide additional evaluations and obtain a clear opinion on whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran's initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was confirmed, and a 10 percent rating from March 21, 2003, was granted. No new evidence or service connection issues were addressed.

The VA determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his hearing acuity is only level II in both ears.

The veteran's right ear hearing loss is service-connected due to acoustic trauma. The left ear hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for a disability. Service connection was denied for the GI disorders and increased evaluation for low back disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his active military service. The evidence shows no mention of these conditions in service records and there is insufficient medical opinion to support their connection to service.

The Board has determined that a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not meet VA criteria for a disability at separation from service, and there is no evidence of sensorineural hearing loss within one year after discharge. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's hearing loss is related to active service.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA records and a hearing loss examination. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, stomach problems (dysentery and diarrhea) as secondary to exposure to DDT, and depression are pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are attributable to exposure to acoustic trauma during service. The dental condition is not related to service, but VA provided dentures in 1961 after he underwent extractions for a duodenal ulcer.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a skin condition, including as due to exposure to herbicides. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10% since May 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a compensable evaluation for malaria, finding that there was no evidence of active disease or residuals.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 40 percent prior to June 2, 2004 and from that date. The decision grants the higher ratings.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by speech recognition of 84 percent in the right ear and 88 percent in the left ear, with an average pure tone threshold loss of 52 decibels in the right ear and 51 decibels in the left ear. The RO denied a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current hearing loss disability in the right ear, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Board found that service connection was not warranted for left ear hearing loss and denied all other claims of increased rating.