Hearing loss decisions — 2001

The veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied by the RO in August 1999, and he appealed this decision. The Board has now remanded the case due to a lack of recent VA examination report.

The case is being remanded for additional development of the evidence, including obtaining medical records and employment information. The veteran will undergo a VA examination to assess his service-connected low back disability and determine if he qualifies for a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development being necessary, including obtaining evidence and providing a VA examination for hearing loss.

The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's peripheral vestibular vertigo with bilateral intermittent tinnitus and denied entitlement to an effective date earlier than January 24, 1990, for service connection of various ear disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a right leg injury, claimed as right knee disorder, and hearing loss disability. The evidence did not show that he currently had these disabilities or their relationship to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, but denied service connection for malaria. The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal for his claim of entitlement to an increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and therefore lacks jurisdiction to review this issue.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA audiological examination.

The veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as Level V, which corresponds to a noncompensable rating under the VA disability evaluation criteria. The Board found that this level of impairment does not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation are denied.

The veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and his residuals of a gunshot wound to the right hand are currently rated at 10 percent. The claim for increased evaluation for left ear hearing loss was denied, while the claim for increased evaluation for residuals of gunshot wound to the right hand was granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic left ear sensorineural hearing loss disability was incurred in active service and granted service connection for this condition. The issues of right ear hearing loss disability, bilateral tinnitus, and evaluation of lumbosacral spine osteoarthritis are pending.

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for any higher rating based on the provided audiometric results.

The veteran's initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was granted, but the RO found that his hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board determined that the veteran did not file a timely and adequate substantive appeal with the March 1997 rating decision, thus this decision is final.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, gunshot wound residuals, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The VA determined that the PTSD did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation, the gunshot wound residuals met criteria for a 20% evaluation, there was no compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus warranted only a 10% evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent under either the old or revised criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and Meniere's disease are not well grounded. The RO must apply the new law to the veteran's claim under the provisions set forth in the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.