Hearing loss decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and hearing loss, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for a back disability. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence linking the current hearing loss to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, swelling under the eyes and bilateral dacryoadenitis as secondary to a service-connected condition. The claim for tinnitus is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss in his right ear, finding that there was no evidence meeting VA standards for hearing loss.

The Board has granted a 10% rating for the service-connected duodenal ulcer, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7305.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service and denied the veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, and his combined service-connected disabilities are rated at 70 percent. The Board finds that the evidence supports a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to new and material evidence. However, the claim remains denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing a nexus between the current hearing loss disability and active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic otitis media, bilateral hearing loss, and mastoiditis. The appeals were based on service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and asthma, finding that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his bilateral hearing loss were denied. The appeal to restore a 40 percent evaluation was also denied.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for a higher rating of 70 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder, reopened his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and found that new evidence supports reopening his claim for service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for a total compensation rating based on individual unemployability. The RO continued the disability ratings that have been in effect since December 1976.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral defective hearing and left ear hearing loss, but denied both claims as they are not well grounded.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a service connection claim for hearing loss of the right ear. The left ear hearing loss claim, however, is well-grounded as it involves a current disability related to in-service problems.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is well-grounded and grants the claim.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as the current evaluations are already at their maximum under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied eligibility for payment of attorney fees resulting from the grant of an increased rating to 100 percent for vertigo due to inner ear dysfunction with hearing loss and tinnitus.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable under the old and new rating criteria, resulting in a denial of his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and leg cramps with numbness are not well-grounded, as he does not have current disabilities meeting VA standards for these conditions. The RO denied service connection for both issues.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and pulmonary disorder due to an undiagnosed illness as a result of service in the Southwest Asian Theater. The appeals for chronic fatigue and arthralgia are considered well grounded.