Hearing loss decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no current diagnosis of impaired hearing that meets VA criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a fracture of the left mandible with a 20 percent rating effective June 19, 2000. The veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and a compensable rating for pilonidal cyst were denied.

The VA denied a compensable rating for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that the most severe level of hearing impairment did not exceed levels contemplated for the currently assigned noncompensable rating.

The veteran's claims for bilateral otitis media, hearing loss, and a headache disorder were denied as they are not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting hearing loss was aggravated by his service, and thus grants service connection for a bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in his left ear, entitlement to an initial compensable rating for perforated right eardrum, and entitlement to a compensable rating for hearing loss in his right ear. The claim for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 was also denied.

The VA determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating greater than zero percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and the need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection claims.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding the denial of service connection for PTSD because the veteran did not timely file a substantive appeal. The claim for bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking his current hearing loss to his military service.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his period of active military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and anxiety reaction with depressive and hypochondriacal features, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU rating based on these conditions.

The Board granted an increased rating of 70 percent for the service-connected PTSD effective from November 1, 2000. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20 percent.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) found that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations, and therefore denied his claim for service connection for hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his exposure to noise during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating at any point during this appeal period.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that no new evidence had been submitted to establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 6, 2001 for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied as his claim was received on March 6, 2001, which is considered the earliest date of entitlement.

The veteran withdrew his appeal with respect to both issues on appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which was previously denied in April 1992.