Hearing loss decisions — 2001

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a hearing loss disability, finding that he does not have current hearing loss disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes, finding that his disabilities do not render him incapable of substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as an increased rating for fungal infection/tinea versicolor. The veteran's current symptoms are not shown to be related to his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as it is only at Level IV, which corresponds to noncompensable disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a nexus between his claimed conditions and active service.

The Board has granted a compensable evaluation (20%) for the veteran's residuals of left foot fracture, and denied entitlement to an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a nervous disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, ruptured tympanic membranes, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision also noted that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection of a nervous disorder.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board also granted service connection for both conditions as they are related to inservice noise exposure.

The veteran's hearing loss is granted as incurred in service. Service connection for ulcers is denied. The right ankle injury with old avulsion fracture and the right foot injury with plantar fasciitis are both granted increased ratings.

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

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for otitis media and hearing loss in the right ear, finding that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his period of active duty for training.

The Board found no evidence of left ear hearing loss during service and insufficient medical evidence to link current hearing loss to service. The claim was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset during service or within one year after separation, and was not caused by an in-service disease or injury. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hip disability are found to be related to service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss of the left ear and remanded it for further development, including a VA audiological examination.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss from June 10, 1999 was granted and assigned a 20 percent rating. The effective date of this decision is June 10, 2001. Service connection for tinnitus was also granted with an effective date of July 10, 2000.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma sustained during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for asbestosis or an asbestos related lung disorder, hearing loss disability, and residuals of a perforated left tympanic membrane. The veteran did not have these conditions due to lack of evidence supporting the claims.