Hearing loss decisions — 2000

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to a lack of current disability as provided by a medical diagnosis.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Board found that the veteran's right ear hearing loss developed as a result of in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for it. The claim for left ear hearing loss is pending, with a compensable rating still to be determined. The nonservice-connected pension claim remains unresolved due to additional disabilities not previously considered.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a well-grounded claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, residuals of malnutrition, left shoulder fracture, or jaw fracture. The Board also found no evidence to support service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his period of active service, with aggravation occurring in service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The veteran's increased rating claims for various service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board denied the claims of service connection for hypertension and right ear hearing loss as not well grounded.

The veteran is found to be blind in both eyes due to his cerebrovascular accident, and therefore meets the criteria for special monthly compensation on account of the need for aid and attendance.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer on a secondary basis, prostatitis, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim of service connection for tonsillectomy residuals was also denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board also concludes that the veteran was exposed to noise in service, which is considered hazardous exposure, resulting in bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for dermatophytosis of the feet and denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, anxiety disorder with panic disorder and agoraphobia, and dermatophytosis of the hands. The case is remanded to obtain a psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not well-grounded, and therefore denied.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, maintaining a noncompensable rating prior to November 22, 1999 and a 10 percent rating thereafter.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and right inguinal hernia, finding that the evidence did not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as they are not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and atherosclerotic heart disease are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a nexus between any in-service events and these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found new and material evidence to reopen the claims of service connection for residuals of a lip laceration, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral ankle disability. The veteran's in-service stressors are recognized as credible.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well-grounded, and thus denied.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current hearing loss to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for his service-connected left ear disorder due to insufficient information regarding the appropriateness of the speech discrimination test in July 1994 examination.