Hearing loss decisions — 2002

The veteran's residuals of a right ankle injury, ganglion cyst of the right wrist, hemorrhoids, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted initial evaluations. The right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent disabling since January 27, 1997.

The VA determined that the appellant does not have a current hearing loss disability, chest disorder, chronic bronchitis or chronic pulmonary symptoms, sinus bradycardia, or chronic allergic rhinitis. The Board found no evidence of service connection for these conditions.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a hearing loss disability, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease and myositis of the lumbosacral spine, residuals of a fracture of the right middle finger, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD and hearing loss disabilities make him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's exposure to loud noises during service is at least as likely as not related to his current conditions.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable initial disability rating.

The veteran's iritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted as it was incurred during active duty due to acoustic trauma from artillery and gunfire exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), hepatitis C, and a skin rash as there is no evidence of current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are due to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, which meets the schedular criteria. The veteran is also entitled to a 70 percent rating for his bilateral hearing loss, but not an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are attributable to noise exposure during service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's current claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were not incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus began during his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral high frequency hearing loss and a retroactive effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of earlier intent to claim these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, otitis media on a direct basis, and increased evaluation for bilateral plantar fasciitis. The claim for increased evaluation of bilateral plantar fasciitis was granted with a rating of 20 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right knee disorder and denied it. The veteran's left knee disorder and left ear hearing loss are not service-connected. A noncompensable rating is assigned for the veteran's left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss and residuals of ruptured eardrums are attributable to his active service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant.