Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's left ear hearing loss and Meniere's disease, specifically related to her service in ACDUTRA. The AMC is instructed to obtain any outstanding private medical records and schedule a VA examination for the veteran.

The VA determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred.

The veteran's service records do not show any complaints or diagnoses related to the claimed conditions. The veteran testified that he did not receive medical treatment for these conditions during his military service.,VA has reviewed all available evidence and determined that there is no basis to establish service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as his current level of hearing impairment does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, post-traumatic headaches, hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of multiple shell fragment wounds (SFWs), carpal tunnel syndrome, and hepatitis C. The denial was based on a lack of credible evidence to support these conditions as being related to service.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 10 percent since February 27, 2004. The Board found that the current rating is appropriate based on the results of a recent VA audiometry evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease, both determined to be directly related to service. The claimant's tinnitus issue is pending.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service and concluded that the current conditions are not related to military service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied.

The veteran's claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) was granted effective September 30, 1999. The Board found no basis to award TDIU prior to this date.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic right shoulder strain associated with traumatic arthritis, left acromioclavicular joint and assigned a 30 percent disability rating effective May 16, 1997. The issue of hearing loss is dismissed as the veteran does not manifest hearing loss within the meaning of VA regulations.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology and onset of his claimed conditions.

The Board found that the grant of service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of July 25, 2002, based on the veteran's reported symptoms and diagnosis from his July 25, 2002 VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA audiology records and possibly a VA examination. The veteran must provide any relevant evidence in his possession.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his request for an increased rating for tinnitus was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a separate evaluation for each ear for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability related to his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran does not have right ear hearing loss attributable to his period of military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim or examination in the record.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of evidence, particularly regarding a recent VA examination for left ankle disability. The veteran's claim remains pending.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as his most recent audiometric evaluations show Level II and Level IX hearing in each ear.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 5, 1999 for a 50 percent evaluation of his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to obtain VA treatment records from Oregon.