Hearing loss decisions — 2001

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO granted an increased rating to 30 percent for the right knee injury with residual laxity, but denied higher ratings for other conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeal as his Substantive Appeal was not timely filed.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss effective June 10, 2001. The veteran's TDIU claim remains denied.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for dermatitis. The veteran was not granted any of his requested benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for right ear hearing loss or left knee sprain, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The increased evaluation claim for left ear hearing loss is also denied.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in service, but his psychiatric disability has been productive of a demonstrable inability to obtain or retain employment since February 24, 1998. His residuals of a shell fragment wound (SFW) of the left arm have resulted in moderate impairment of Muscle Group V muscles.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not warrant a compensable evaluation under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to acoustic trauma incurred in service. The RO granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to noise trauma during service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a stomach disability and bilateral hearing loss. The RO has ordered additional development due to the complexity of the issues, including consideration of combat exposure.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation under the applicable criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation. The issue of service connection for fatigue, breathing difficulty and numbness as due to an undiagnosed illness is pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The appeal is dismissed as the veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal.

The veteran's appeal regarding the April 1976 rating decision was denied as there is no clear and unmistakable error in the assigned evaluations for his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a schedular evaluation greater than zero percent.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for left ear hearing loss, finding that the veteran's hearing loss did not meet criteria for a compensable rating based on his audiometric test results.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than March 21, 1997 and July 10, 1995 for service connection and increased ratings for his back disorder and bilateral hearing loss, respectively.

The veteran's major depression is rated at 50 percent, his arteriosclerotic heart disease remains at 60 percent, and his bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he already has a schedular 100 percent rating.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral knee disabilities were dismissed as he did not file a timely substantive appeal.