Hearing loss decisions — 2001

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a skin disorder, and a prostate disorder. The issues of reopening claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been addressed.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 2, 1989 for service connection of bilateral hearing loss. The decision was based on the lack of evidence showing entitlement arose before that date.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of left ear hearing loss or tinnitus, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The Board also found no aggravation of preexisting left ear hearing loss during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 13, 1998 for the award of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of these conditions during his military service or within one year after discharge. The Board also found that there was insufficient medical evidence to link any current hearing loss or tinnitus to his military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to a lack of evidence showing that his current hearing impairment is related to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral high frequency hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable evaluation is not warranted based on current findings.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased disability evaluations for service-connected hemorrhoids and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his current level of hearing impairment is consistent with a noncompensable rating under the applicable regulations.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss due to new and material evidence submitted by the veteran. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board has granted a separate 10% evaluation for tinnitus as of June 10, 1999. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence linking his current hearing loss to service or any incident thereof.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which was previously denied in October 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a right index finger fracture, finding that his hearing acuity did not warrant any compensable rating. The claim for a single 10 percent rating based on multiple service-connected disabilities was also denied.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal due to a lack of timely filing of a substantive appeal for issues related to service connection.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeal regarding a noncompensable evaluation for service-connected mechanical low back pain due to his failure to timely file either a substantive appeal or request for an extension of time. The claims of service connection for hearing loss and right knee disability are pending.

The veteran is entitled to an effective date of January [redacted], 1998, for the payment of additional compensation for his spouse.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, effective March 15, 1993. The RO is instructed to determine the appropriate earlier effective dates.