Hearing loss decisions — 2000

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, residuals of a ruptured right eardrum, fatigue and memory loss claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness. The veteran's claims were not well-grounded for the first two conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, a deviated nasal septum, and a nose and throat condition are not well grounded. The evidence does not support current disabilities or a link to service.

The veteran is granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected bilateral hearing loss, effective from November 7, 1994.

The Board denied increased ratings for the service-connected postoperative residuals of right and left inguinal hernias, as well as a compensable rating for bilateral high frequency hearing loss. The veteran's PTSD was rated at 70%.

The Board determined that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claims for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. However, it was concluded that the veteran does not have a current disability for VA compensation purposes due to her hearing loss and that the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied by operation of law.

The veteran's appeal is granted for increased ratings in several areas, including his left radial nerve disability and various wounds from service. However, the rating decision of June 12, 1946 involving these disabilities was found to have involved CUE.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The appeals are based on various disabilities, but no presumption or secondary theory of service connection was claimed.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are well-grounded, and the appeal is granted to this extent.

The veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans' (RH) Insurance was denied because the application was not filed within the statutory two-year period after his most recent service-connected disability award, and there is no evidence of mental incompetence during that time.

The veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings was denied. Service connection for residuals of bilateral ankle injuries, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss were not granted. Service connection for allergic rhinitis and teeth 4, 18, 19, 30, and 31 was granted with the assigned ratings.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities were denied. The veteran was granted separate 10 percent ratings for tinnitus and the chin scar, as residuals of shrapnel wounds.

The Board determined that the veteran's hearing loss in his left ear warranted service connection, but denied a higher initial noncompensable rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the January 1977 and February 1992 rating decisions, as well as his requests for earlier effective dates for service connection. The RO correctly considered all available evidence at the time and applied the relevant laws and regulations.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The RO found no evidence of an exceptional disability picture that would warrant extra-schedular consideration.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a right wrist disability, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss. The decision found that there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of low back injury and hearing loss, finding that he did not have veteran status during the relevant periods in the U.S. Army Reserve.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right leg due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 10 percent evaluation.

The VA has denied a compensable disability evaluation for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.