Hearing loss decisions — 2001

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which was previously denied in August 1977. The two August 1999 VA medical records provided significant evidence supporting the veteran's claim.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected otitis media and bilateral hearing loss do not warrant a compensable disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of pneumonia or hearing loss, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The veteran's current bilateral hearing disability is due to disease or injury which was incurred in service, and the Board finds that service connection for the condition is warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, including exposure to loud noises from artillery and weapons firing during World War II. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for various service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, carpal tunnel release of both wrists, hemorrhoids, repair of anal fissure, removal of colon polyps, plantar fasciitis of the right foot, residuals of cholecystectomy, residuals of appendectomy, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss warrants a 30 percent rating, and his service-connected pyoderma also warrants a 30 percent rating. These determinations are based on the current level of disability as evidenced by recent audiometry and skin examination reports.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a higher initial disability rating, as it currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection due to the lack of evidence showing entitlement prior to the date of receipt of the claims.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a compensable rating under the current criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, but denied on the merits. The claim for PTSD was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that it is proximately due to the veteran's service-connected PTSD. The claim of increased rating for bilateral hearing loss will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss and found that new evidence submitted since the previous denial supports a finding of in-service exposure to noise, which is sufficient to establish service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss disability. The claim is now considered on its merits.

The Board has determined that a 10 percent evaluation is warranted for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence supporting their onset during active duty.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a finding of in-service injury or disease. The Board also found that any current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to military service.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was initially noncompensable from April 14, 1999 through July 26, 2000. Since July 27, 2000, the veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 20 percent.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.