Hearing loss decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule. The issue of reopening his claim for service connection for lung disability was also addressed and granted.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a skin disorder, left knee disorder, hearing loss, gastrointestinal disorder, hypertension, and prostate dysfunction. The veteran's claims were based on direct service connection without any presumption or secondary theory.

The VA has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating in excess of 0 percent, as his puretone thresholds and discrimination abilities do not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss to his military service, specifically noting that there was no evidence of hearing loss in service and that noise-induced hearing loss typically occurs at the time of exposure. The appeal is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an increased evaluation, as it is currently rated at zero percent and both VA examinations showed levels II for the right ear and III for the left ear.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum non-compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of these conditions.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable as a result of his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board has granted a rating of 10 percent for chronic suppurative otitis media with tinnitus and assigned a separate 10 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, effective as of June 10, 1999. The veteran's service-connected conditions are not considered to be due to exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War, or any other specific basis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for history of a severe sprain with hairline fracture of the right ankle. The RO initially assigned a 10 percent evaluation for the right clavicle disability, which was not contested.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of timely filing of a substantive appeal.

The veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and there are no issues to appeal regarding service connection or rating.

The Board finds that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is causally related to his period of service and grants service connection for this condition.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection and earlier effective date for post-traumatic stress disorder.