Hearing loss decisions — 2002

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore denied his claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the veteran's in-service exposure to acoustic trauma.

The veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, but the effective date is being determined based on new and material evidence.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that the most recent audiometry results were invalid and did not support an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a diagnosed hearing loss disability and finds no evidence to support a finding of service connection for his claimed bilateral hearing loss.

The Board and RO denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his original claim filed in 1975.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of hearing loss of the left ear was denied.,The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral tinnitus was also denied.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred during his active service. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cellulitis of the right mandible and jaw pain. The evidence did not show a nexus between these conditions and service.,Service medical records showed treatment for cellulitis of the right mandible during service but no residuals were noted at separation. Post-service private and VA records do not document any current disabilities related to cellulitis or tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current hearing loss disability in either ear and his tinnitus is not related to service exposure. Therefore, the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of hearing loss, finding that the earliest date VA could consider as the receipt of his application to reopen was April 11, 1979. The RO assigned an effective date of April 11, 1979.

The case is remanded for scheduling a personal hearing before a member of the Board of Veterans' Appeals at the local VA Regional Office. The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and recognition of L. W. as a helpless child will be reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically due to acoustic trauma experienced during active duty. As a result, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the veteran's symptoms are related to combat stressors during service. The left ankle disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, specifically noise exposure during active duty. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The veteran was awarded a temporary total rating under 38 C.F.R. � 4.30 from February 21, 1997 through February 1998.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions, including sinusitis, sinus headaches, tinnitus, chronic otitis media, nasal deformity, and bilateral hearing loss, were not shown by a preponderance of the competent medical evidence to be linked to service, including as due to head trauma sustained in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension with vascular disease, and heart disease. The evidence did not support a finding of chronic conditions in service or any link to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of hearing loss for VA purposes and no chronic acquired eye disability was diagnosed. Therefore, service connection is denied.,There is no showing from the service medical records or reserve service medical records of complaints, findings, or diagnoses of cataracts. The instances of allergic conjunctivitis were acute and transitory.