Hearing loss decisions — 2001

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were dismissed as abandoned due to his failure to respond to VA correspondence and fail to provide a current address.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss, finding that his current bilateral moderate-severe hearing loss is related to noise exposure during active military service. The claim for trench foot was denied as there is no medical evidence showing a current disability or etiology.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability or residuals of a right hand laceration with tendon repair. The preponderance of evidence shows no in-service injury, and any post-service symptoms are attributed to non-service-related causes.

The Board found that the veteran's left ear hearing loss was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection. The right ear hearing loss has been assigned a zero percent rating since June 29, 1998.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss of the left ear and denied an increased rating for hearing loss of the right ear. The veteran's hearing loss is considered to be due to noise exposure in service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an increased rating for residuals of laceration of the right hand to include index and middle fingers due to a failure to timely file a substantive appeal.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are currently rated at 80 percent, effective June 10, 1999. The claim for a TDIU rating remains denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral high frequency hearing loss was denied. The RO granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and assigned a 30% rating, effective August 25, 1999.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by a Level I hearing impairment in both ears, and the assigned noncompensable rating under the applicable VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities remains unchanged.

The Board finds the evidence to be in relative equipoise as to the etiology of the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, and concludes that service connection is warranted for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, and thus denied his claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss in his right ear, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the previously denied claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, hearing loss, and a leg disorder. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in or related to his military service.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the veteran's current condition is related to his hearing loss in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and there is no evidence of compensable hearing loss within one year after his separation from service. The veteran's tinnitus was not incurred during active duty service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran may have a current hearing loss disability related to service, but more evidence is needed. The case is being remanded for further development and an examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, finding no persuasive medical evidence of current PTSD.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has denied the veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for his awards of service connection for sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus. The effective date for sensorineural hearing loss is set at August 19, 1998, and for tinnitus at August 19, 1997.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.