Hearing loss decisions — 2000

The Board finds that the veteran's claim of entitlement to a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes is not well grounded as he does not meet the percentage requirements for an award of non-service connected disability pension benefits under the objective criteria. However, further examination may be necessary to evaluate his current non-service connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for hearing loss and denying both issues.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and thus denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tonsillitis, finding that neither rating criteria were more favorable to him based on the evidence of record.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the RO found no new and material evidence to reopen several of his claims. The prostate disorder claim was not well-grounded due to lack of a current disability related to service. The hearing loss and cardiac disability claims were withdrawn by the veteran. The liver disorder claim was not well-grounded as there is no indication of a current disability or relationship to service. The gastrointestinal and skin disorder claims were also not well-grounded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, skin cancer, and tinnitus are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and personnel information. The Board will also consider the well-groundedness of each claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and residuals of dental trauma are not well-grounded.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking the current condition to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a lung disorder, increased rating for panic attacks, and increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's claim for service connection was not well-grounded as there is no evidence of a current disability linked to service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His existing disabilities include thrombophlebitis of the left leg, right hip strain, tinnitus, hearing loss in the right ear, fractures to the right orbit and mandible, and a history of cerebrovascular accident.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is well grounded. The VA has provided a medical opinion establishing the plausibility of a nexus between his diagnosed hearing loss and his alleged exposure to acoustic trauma in Vietnam.

The veteran's claims for service connection for refractive error (vision loss), hearing loss, and heart murmur are denied. The claim for a compensable rating for service-connected Dupuytren's contracture of the left hand is granted with a noncompensable rating prior to October 3, 1997, but no longer warranted after that date.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, bilateral hand pain, and shortness of breath (claimed as due to asbestos exposure). The claim for a low back disorder is pending. No new evidence was presented to reopen the previously denied claims for a bilateral knee disorder or right ankle disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete VA treatment records, and the appellant's dates of treatment need clarification.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and loss of equilibrium were not caused by VA treatment, but rather represented the natural progression of his pre-existing conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss is a result of exposure to acoustic trauma during service and grants the claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is well grounded and the appeal is granted.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an increased disability evaluation, as his current hearing acuity levels do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence, but finds that a well-grounded claim cannot be established as there is no medical evidence linking current hearing loss to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of disability compensation benefits for left ear hearing loss is granted, with the earliest possible effective date being January 21, 1992.