Hearing loss decisions — 2000

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus is denied. The Board found that the earliest valid claim was received on July 24, 1998.

The veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the issues of service connection for hearing loss, blindness, head injury, and PTSD and an increased evaluation for fibrocystic breast disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not warrant increased ratings as they are currently rated.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claims of entitlement to increased evaluations for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered in light of the new evidence.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied as his service-connected conditions did not meet the rating criteria under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a cystectomy scar due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted an initial noncompensable evaluation for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a fracture to the right fifth metacarpal. The effective date is not specified as it was assigned under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and an effective date prior to September 29, 1959. The appeals were all dismissed as not well grounded.

The Board found no competent medical evidence to support the veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, a kidney disorder, a lobular prostate, or an epididymal cyst. The claims were denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need to evaluate under both prior and amended regulations, as well as address any additional private audiograms. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for status post muscle surgery of the right eye remains on appeal.

The veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and bilateral hearing loss were denied, while his claim for an initial rating higher than 0 percent for chronic lateral epicondylitis of the right elbow was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Hearing Loss are not well-grounded. The veteran was unable to provide sufficient medical evidence to support his claims, including a diagnosis of PTSD or hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and breathing problems, both of which were determined to be not well-grounded due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus as secondary to hearing loss, and right hip disability. The decision found that the evidence did not support a well-grounded claim for any of these issues.

The appellant's claim for an increased original evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evidence collection.

The Board has determined that the veteran incurred bilateral hearing loss as a result of noise exposure during service, and thus granted his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss, finding that the current zero percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 6100 encompasses a range of hearing acuity and does not mean he has no impairment or difficulty in employment.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is not well grounded due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking his current disability to active duty service.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss did not increase in severity during his period of active duty, and thus denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and diabetes mellitus are not related to his active duty service.,The right knee disability is considered not well-grounded as there is no competent medical evidence linking it to active duty service.