Hearing loss Board decisions

The veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his scar residuals, right shoulder; reopening of previously denied service connection claims for right knee injury and bilateral hearing loss are being considered. The Board finds new and material evidence has been submitted in support of the reopened claims.

The Board dismissed the appeal because an adequate substantive appeal was not filed within 60 days of the statement of the case.

The Board is remanding the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service. The RO must obtain medical records from prior sinusitis treatment, brain tumor operations, and a mastoidectomy performed during active duty.

The Board found that the evidence received since the August 1998 rating decision is not new and material to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disorder, and hypertension. The RO will obtain complete service medical records and any relevant personnel records from the service department, as well as post-service medical records. They will also schedule the veteran for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 7, 2000 for a grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The RO received the veteran's initial claim on that date.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including optic atrophy of the right eye, bilateral varicose veins, and bilateral hearing loss, meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual employability due to his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for an audiological examination to determine if the veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his military service, including claimed noise exposure as a musician with the Navy band in service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim for reopening of the hearing loss claim was also granted.

The veteran's disabilities are evaluated as follows: severe saphenous vein insufficiency, severe peripheral vascular insufficiency, history of superficial vein thrombosis and nocturnal leg cramps, left lower extremity; severe peripheral vascular insufficiency, popliteal, history of thrombophlebitis, nocturnal leg cramps, right lower extremity. The combined evaluation is 40 percent. The veteran does not have a single disability rated at 100 percent and the evidence does not show that he is substantially confined to his dwelling or immediate premises.

The case is being remanded for further development of the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his peripheral neuropathy and bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including myocardial infarction and lower dorsal spine injury, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral leg condition, to include arthritis of the knees, and hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, specifically to noise exposure during combat in World War II. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss attributable to military service or any incident of active duty, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of active malaria, inactive scars on the left lateral thigh and leg, or bilateral hearing loss warranting a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable evaluation, and his tinnitus is rated at 10 percent. The appeal for increased ratings remains pending.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent for PTSD and denied a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are of service origin, granting his claims for these conditions.