Hearing loss decisions — 2002

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, to include hypertension, and granted it. The issues of service connection for other conditions are also addressed.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, PTSD, and a heart disorder. The Board found that the veteran does not have right ear hearing loss by VA standards and his left ear hearing loss is not related to his period of active service. His heart disorder is also not related to his period of active service or his service-connected depressive neurosis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating under either the old or new VA rating criteria.

The veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The issue of evaluating his bilateral hearing loss, currently rated at 10%, is dismissed.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for noise induced bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for service connection and benefits related to his military service, including PTSD, gunshot wound residuals, hearing loss, vitamin B-12 deficiency, and GERD. The Board found no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to August 30, 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 40 percent since March 10, 2001. His left inguinal hernia repair does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a low back disability have all been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that led to these conditions.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for Meniere's syndrome, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and a skin disorder incurred during active duty service.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim, but concluded that service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not warranted as it was due to preexisting otosclerosis.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting hearing loss of the left ear was aggravated by service, but did not find any current hearing loss in his right ear.

The Board finds that the veteran's left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and BCC are related to service. However, BCC is not presumed due to Agent Orange exposure as it is not one of the diseases covered by the presumption. Service connection for chloracne is denied as there is no evidence linking it to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as a higher evaluation for PTSD. The veteran's current conditions are not linked to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a fracture of the fifth digit of the right foot were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The claims are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral visual acuity loss and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of a current disability or injury that would warrant such connections.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that he is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus or 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the evaluation for tinnitus due to a late Substantive Appeal, and did not reach the merits of the hearing loss claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss, concluding that there was no evidence linking his current hearing impairment to service. The decision is not considered clear and unmistakable error.