Hearing loss decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence to support a well-grounded claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for ocular disorders and hearing loss are not well grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and back injury are service-connected, with no presumption or secondary connection involved.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, finding that neither criteria is more favorable to the veteran than the other.

The Board found no evidence of a current hearing loss disability and concluded that the veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is not well grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability was not well-grounded due to lack of competent evidence linking his current hearing loss to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a well-grounded claim for service connection of his bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of shrapnel wounds to the right shoulder are service-connected, but his right ear hearing loss and shrapnel wound to the upper chest do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and found that new evidence supports her claim. However, the Board determined that there is no medical evidence linking her current hearing loss to her military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected organic brain syndrome, residuals of a fracture of the left rib, residuals of a fracture of the inferior and bilateral left orbit zygoma, status post septorhinoplasty and sinusitis, and bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's request for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals by means of a televideo conference has not been accommodated. The case is being remanded to the RO to schedule such a hearing and allow the veteran's representative to review the claims file.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and comedones (claimed as jungle rot) are well grounded. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted due to current evidence showing a nexus between in-service exposure to loud noises and gunfire and his current condition. The claim for tinnitus is also granted based on the VA examiner's opinion linking it to service noise exposure. However, the claim for comedones (claimed as jungle rot) is denied because there is no medical evidence establishing a link to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are well-grounded, but have not met the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable VA rating schedule. The claim for reopening his back disability is denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted.

The veteran's request for a personal hearing at the RO is noted, and his appeal of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded to the Regional Office for further action.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of a left ear hearing loss disorder was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a greater than zero percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or due to being housebound, finding that his disabilities did not meet the criteria for such a determination.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus of the left ear, as his claims are not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss, which was noted during service and continued after discharge, meets the criteria for a disability under VA regulations. Therefore, the claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.

The veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted under either the former or revised criteria.

The Board found no evidence of current bilateral hearing loss or hypertension, and thus denied the veteran's claims for service connection.