Hearing loss decisions — 2002

The Board denied an increased evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, currently evaluated as 60 percent disabling.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and active duty for training.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is the result of acoustic trauma in service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the service-connected right ear hearing loss with otomastoiditis, finding that the veteran's current disability did not warrant a higher than zero percent evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss in his right ear did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The veteran's hearing loss was initially evaluated as zero percent from February 22, 1990 to May 15, 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations, and therefore service connection is denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and determined the effective date should be July 31, 1972.

The Board finds that the veteran currently suffers from bilateral hearing loss and that his service connection claim is granted as his hearing loss had its onset during active service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected disabilities were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, and denied entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for left thumb injury with scar, right elbow fracture, and acromioclavicular separation of the right shoulder with degenerative joint disease (postoperative).

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a left ear hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that his most recent audiometric evaluation showed level I hearing in both ears.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently suffer from bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and denied his claim of entitlement to an increased rating for service-connected residuals of extensive laceration of the dorsum of the right hand.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and assigned a 10 percent evaluation for tinnitus from March 12, 1998, to June 9, 1999. The issue of increased rating for tinnitus is deferred due to the grant of service connection.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits, effective from July 20, 1998. The veteran's receipt of Social Security benefits based on old age, survivors' status or disability insurance is properly included as countable income in computation of his pension benefits.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a compensable rating, as his auditory acuity was at levels I in both ears based on VA audiological examinations conducted in July 1988, April 2000, and March 2002. The appeal is denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and sinusitis, finding that neither condition warranted a compensable or higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also found in favor of the veteran, determining that his tinnitus disability is related to his period of active military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss began many years after his active duty and was not caused by any incident of service.