Hearing loss decisions — 2001

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability. The issue at hand is increased rating beyond 40 percent for service-connected chronic low back pain with retrolisthesis L5-S1.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's plantar fasciitis of the right foot is rated 10% and his bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be due to noise exposure during World War II service, thus service connection is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the RO's February 1976 decision, which denied service connection for hearing loss disability, is not final due to a timely filed Notice of Disagreement (NOD). As such, the issue before the Board now involves direct service connection.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the denial of service connection for tinnitus or hearing loss, as the evidence then of record did not support these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under either the old or new VA rating schedules. The claims of service connection for other conditions were denied as they were not well-grounded.

The Board denied service connection for high blood pressure and tinnitus, but granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The right knee and left knee disabilities were not addressed as they did not arise during active duty.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 6100. The Board finds that his condition does not warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is appropriate based on the current clinical findings.

The veteran's tinnitus and COPD have been granted service connection, with the VA assigning a 30 percent evaluation for COPD as of December 14, 1994. The hearing loss claim is pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran was granted a 10 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss effective from October 30, 1999.

The veteran's tinnitus and right ear hearing loss are not rated higher than the current noncompensable ratings.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a nerve injury of the left foot, and a right shoulder disability were denied as not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability due to lack of evidence showing a chronic condition in service or related to service.,Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss as it is considered a disability under VA criteria and there is no dispute regarding its onset during service.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the veteran's left wrist disability, which is currently rated as noncompensable.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee and right ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not warrant a compensable rating under either the old or new criteria.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and a sleep disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a sleep disorder has also been remanded.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining suitable employment in his chosen field of Information Technology. The Board finds no employment handicap and thus denies the claim for vocational rehabilitation training.