Hearing loss decisions — 2000

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic lumbosacral strain and tinnitus, are sufficiently severe to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting right ear hearing loss was aggravated during his period of active duty for training, and thus service connection is granted for this condition. However, there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to military service or his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service. The decision was based on the lack of medical records from service and the absence of any direct evidence linking current hearing issues to service.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss or anxiety reaction to his active service. The claim for increased evaluation of anxiety reaction was denied as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim.

The Board found no evidence of chronic disabilities related to the claimed conditions during service or that are otherwise linked to service, thus denying all claims for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for aortic valve replacement with mitral valve systolic murmur and PTSD, but denied reopening of his claim for sacroiliac sprain. The rating for laceration wound of the right hand is increased to 10 percent.

The Board found no competent evidence to support the veteran's claims of current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to service, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an increased (compensable) disability rating under either the old or new rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left ear hearing loss developed during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and assigned a 10 percent rating. The claim for an increased rating for the veteran's left knee disability is still pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss secondary to quinine treatment for malaria and for an increased rating for PTSD. The decision stated that there was no competent medical evidence showing a relationship between the use of quinine and hearing loss, and the current disability evaluation for PTSD is 30 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a current low back disorder, multiple joint disorder, or hearing loss disability. The veteran's service medical records do not show any diagnosed conditions related to these issues.,Service connection cannot be granted for the veteran's claimed disabilities as there is insufficient evidence linking them to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder. The evaluations for otitis media and bilateral hearing loss are denied as there is no evidence of worsening since service connection was granted.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings and a total rating based on individual unemployability were denied. The hearing request was scheduled but not held.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as PTSD. The evidence shows that his current disabilities are related to in-service noise exposure during World War II.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected anxiety reaction and residuals of a cholecystectomy with cholangitis, both currently rated at 30 percent. The decision also noted that no new and material evidence had been received to reopen the hearing loss claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence linking his current disability to military service, including no in-service hearing loss or noise exposure.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals, and the Board is dismissing them.