Hearing loss decisions — 2001

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

The Board found that the appellant's back injury during reserve service, including multiple parachute jumps, resulted in a current degenerative disc and joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine. The hearing loss disability was also linked to exposure to noise during reserve service.

The veteran's appeal was denied for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The issues of service connection for degenerative disk changes of the lumbar spine, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right hip disorder, and right ankle disorder were also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not increase in severity during his period of active duty, and thus he is denied service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is for a higher disability evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The RO has granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, but the Board finds that another VA audiological evaluation is necessary to determine if the current rating should be increased.

The Board has determined that a higher evaluation for hearing loss of the left ear is not warranted, as it currently meets the criteria for a 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA regulations, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, and the claim for a higher rating remains pending.,For his tinnitus, an additional 10 percent rating has been granted on an extraschedular basis due to its severity.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for bilateral otitis media and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of the currently assigned noncompensable disability evaluations.

The Board denied restoration of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for tinnitus in July 1986. The veteran's motion alleging clear and unmistakable error (CUE) was dismissed without prejudice to refiling.

The VA determined that the veteran's current noncompensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is appropriate based on his audiometric test results.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, proteinuria (claimed as right and left wrist disorders), and initial compensable evaluations for sinusitis and bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spurs. The issues were not adjudicated due to a procedural issue regarding the denial of service connection for a left wrist injury.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of various service-connected disabilities were denied. The RO found that the current ratings adequately reflected the severity and nature of his conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred during his active military service.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and there was no credible supporting evidence for his claimed stressors. The medical evidence does not show a link between diagnosed conditions and service, leading to denial of all claims.

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

The veteran's hearing loss disability in the right ear is service-connected, and his tinnitus is secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The RO should assign ratings for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is not factually ascertainable that the increase in severity of his hearing loss occurred during the one year period prior to May 7, 1999.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right ear hearing loss and assigned a rating of 10 percent. The left foot disability, bilateral ankle gout, and right ear hearing loss are all considered direct service connections.

The Board denied a higher rating for the service-connected hearing loss and did not address or grant service connection for vision problems and an anxiety disorder secondary to encephalopathy.