Hearing loss decisions — 2001

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no reasonable possibility of additional evidence being helpful in substantiating these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to ambiguities and contradictions in the medical records, requiring further development including a VA audiological examination.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus was denied due to lack of well-groundedness. The Board has decided that additional development is needed, including obtaining all service medical records from the veteran's reserve service.

The Board denied increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and a scar wound to the right forearm, finding that the veteran's conditions did not warrant higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, hearing loss, and stomach disorder.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking his current hearing loss to a remote prescription of quinine during World War II service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss began in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of reopening his right ear hearing loss claim and granting an increased evaluation for left ear hearing loss. The M&ROC found that new evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen the right ear hearing loss claim, and continued the noncompensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date of May 3, 1995 for the TDIU rating due to lack of evidence showing individual unemployability within one year prior to the June 1991 application.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. However, the issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in the August 1991 rating decision is intertwined with this reopening and must be adjudicated before further appellate consideration can proceed.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of back injury. The issues are mixed as some aspects may be granted while others may not.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right knee sprain have been denied as the evidence does not show that entitlement to these benefits arose prior to the dates assigned in the decision.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for service connection of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss should be February 27, 1998, and September 23, 1997 respectively. The veteran's claims were not granted earlier due to lack of prior informal or formal claims.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied an increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and granted a temporary increase from 10 to 20 percent for cervical and lumbar back strain. The veteran's current level of disability does not warrant a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss, but the claim is remanded for further development regarding his cervical and lumbar back strain.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his left ear hearing loss, finding that it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the effective date for granting service connection for bilateral hearing loss cannot be earlier than October 28, 1993, as no formal or informal claim was filed within one year of the veteran's discharge from active military service.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's claims as he did not file a timely substantive appeal within one year of the August 1998 rating decision.

The veteran's PTSD was granted with a 70 percent evaluation, and other service-connected conditions were also granted. The veteran's TDIU claim was also granted.