Hearing loss decisions — 2002

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for hearing loss of the left ear and a low back disability, finding that there was no current evidence of these conditions meeting VA compensation criteria. The claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound was also denied.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently evaluated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted. The thoracic and cervical spine disabilities are each rated as noncompensable. The impingement syndrome of the right shoulder, GERD, and right ear hearing loss are all rated appropriately.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability is causally related to noise exposure in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as her hearing impairment did not exceed levels contemplated for the currently assigned noncompensable rating.

The veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted, as his current diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss is consistent with military noise exposure during combat.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a hearing loss disability and alcoholism, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen his previously denied claims.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred as a result of service, attributing them to natural aging rather than noise exposure or infections in service.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure in service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for memory loss and confusion, as well as generalized arthritis. The decision on left ear hearing loss is pending.,Service connection was established for amnestic disorder secondary to a service-connected heart condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of current disabilities or causation in service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a testicular mass, finding that new evidence does not warrant reopening of these previously denied claims.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for a higher rating for right knee retropatellar compression syndrome, service connection for hearing loss disability, viral syndrome, and Persian Gulf illness (undiagnosed illness) are denied. The VA examinations did not show any arthritic changes, but the appellant reported symptoms such as pain with weather changes, difficulty climbing, kneeling, or sitting for prolonged periods of time, and diminished sensation through the region of trauma.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee chondromalacia and left ear hearing loss from initial service connection, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran withdrew his appeal, so the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claims for service connection and higher evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and gout, as well as earlier effective dates for the hearing loss rating and the scar rating.,The veteran's disabilities were found to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board has granted the restoration of a 20 percent rating for bilateral defective hearing, but the claim for an increased evaluation for service-connected bronchitis was withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The decision is mixed as it reopens the claim but does not grant service connection.

The Board determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is causally linked to his exposure to excessive noise during service, but does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus was granted, while service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.