Hearing loss decisions — 2002

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including right knee degenerative arthritis, cervical and lumbar spinal stenosis with degenerative joint disease, tension headaches, bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, and alcohol dependence, do not render him unemployable due to his back and neck problems. His combined evaluation is 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent schedular evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that no increase in severity of his service-connected condition occurred prior to September 24, 1998.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss remain denied, and the appeal is being remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss due to new and material evidence presented. The appeal is granted on this basis.

The VA determined that the veteran's left ear high frequency hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable rating.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and has awarded a 10 percent rating for PTSD. The veteran's current disability ratings are effective as of April 28, 1999.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his hearing impairment is currently rated at Level I (noncompensable).

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated during active service. The Board denied the claim for a total rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities as his service-connected conditions do not prevent him from engaging in substantial and gainful employment.

The Board denied the reopening of the appellant's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes related to bilateral hearing loss, and there is no evidence of a chronic skin disorder or PTSD. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of right ear hearing loss, but finds no causal relationship between her current condition and active military service.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the veteran's chronic otitis media with hearing loss is causally linked to service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral otitis media and hearing loss is granted.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disorder and an initial compensable rating for defective hearing in the left ear. The veteran's current conditions were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, back condition, and fungal infections of the ears. The decision found that the veteran did not have a hearing loss caused by acoustic trauma in service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied a compensable rating for urethral stricture. The veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have onset in service, with exposure to hazardous noise levels. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right ear otosclerosis status post stapedectomy, with residual hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his current hearing acuity levels do not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under the applicable VA rating schedule.