Hearing loss decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing acuity did not warrant a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The VA has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as his current level of acuity does not warrant such an increase.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than July 1997 for the award of TDIU benefits is denied. The veteran's claim was received in July 1997, and there is no evidence showing a factual increase in disability warranting TDIU benefits within one year prior to this date.

The veteran's initial claim for service-connected left ear hearing loss was granted with a noncompensable evaluation, effective from June 26, 1989. The RO also denied entitlement to a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple, noncompensable disabilities and an increased evaluation for tinnitus. The decision is denied.

The Board determined that the veteran's claims for right and left perforated eardrum residuals were denied as they did not meet the criteria for service connection based on direct evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as evidenced by auditory acuity levels between I and III in both ears, did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no in-service event that could be linked to the current conditions.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, as evidenced by his audiometric test results. Therefore, the claim was denied.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it was shown to be present within one year of discharge. Service connection is denied for bilateral iritis, a deviated nasal septum, sinusitis, and bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was granted, with an effective date of June 10, 2000. The initial noncompensable rating has been increased to 10% as of that date.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence of record showing the veteran has any of the claimed conditions, and thus service connection for gastritis, UTI, hearing loss, left knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, or lumbar spine disorder cannot be established.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's currently manifested bilateral hearing loss did not exist during active service or for many years thereafter, and is not related to active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including hypertension and a heart condition, bilateral hearing loss, left hand condition, disability manifested by knots on the arms, left inguinal hernia, and dental condition.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss did not increase in severity during service and denied his claims for service connection for jungle rot of the feet and hepatitis. The examiner opined that the current hearing loss was most likely due to post-service civilian jobs.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a herniated disc of the lumbar spine. The issue of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss is also addressed, but the veteran does not have current hearing loss for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his low back disability, are not related to service. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disorder were denied as the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and concluded that any current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service. For the back disorder, the Board noted that arthritis was not present until many years after service and could not be presumed to have resulted from herbicide exposure.