Hearing loss decisions — 2000

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his bilateral pes planus and hearing loss, finding that neither had been adequately appealed.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied because there is no current evidence of a disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran engaged in combat with the enemy during his military service, experienced changes in hearing during service, and provided credible testimony regarding exposure to noise during service. A private physician opined that the veteran's moderate to severe neurosensory hearing loss is likely as not due to his combat and military service noise exposure. Therefore, the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss with tinnitus is granted.

The veteran's hearing loss in the left ear is rated at a 10 percent disability level.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, bronchitis, and hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy as her claims are not well-grounded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. An effective date of July 29, 1993, has been assigned for the award of a 100% rating for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic hearing loss disability in service and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between current hearing loss and service. The Board noted that the veteran did not experience any symptoms or diagnosis of hearing loss until many years after service.

The veteran's nonservice-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed chronic left ear hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by wartime service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's appeal was not timely filed for his claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for a stomach disorder. The veteran's claim for increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there were no literal designations in the revised ratings schedule that would warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and rating assignments due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as insufficient evidence supporting each claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, residuals of a gunshot wound to the left forearm, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left forearm.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking his current condition to his military service. The appeal is based on the veteran's contention that he was exposed to noise during his Army Reserve duty, but there are no records confirming this period of reserve service.

The Board granted service connection for gastroenteritis and denied the claims of service connection for a chronic undiagnosed illness manifested by muscle aches, joint pain, skin rashes, and shortness of breath. The right ear hearing loss and sinusitis were not rated higher than noncompensable.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing gainful employment.

The VA denied a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded and have therefore been denied. The skull bone mass is not productive of any current symptoms or impairment, and it has not resulted in any skull loss.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for higher ratings were not well-grounded, and thus denied them.