Hearing loss decisions — 2002

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by his service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an increased rating for a history of a small, slit-like perforation of the left tympanic membrane. The evidence did not show current disability in either condition that could be considered a VA disability for purposes of compensation.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral hearing loss disability and concluded that the veteran's service did not result in any hearing impairment. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss. The veteran is not currently shown to have a right ear hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes. His service-connected tinnitus is manifested by ringing or a loud shrill in the ears. His service-connected left ear hearing loss is currently shown to be manifested by auditory acuity level I.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but granted service connection for the residuals of a fracture of the left lower leg with post-operative scar. The claim for a compensable disability rating for a scar on the right hand was also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claims for tuberculosis, a right foot disorder, hearing loss, and a back disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an evaluation in excess of the current 20 percent rating.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for hearing loss disability, effective June 10, 2001. Prior to that date, the disability was rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to noise exposure during active military service, leading to a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability related to residuals of a left ankle sprain. The evidence supports service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a 20% evaluation, reflecting his current level of impairment.

The Board has granted a 10% disability evaluation for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss as of January 31, 2001. Prior to that date, the evaluations were noncompensable.

The veteran has withdrawn all appeals for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent since March 1998. The RO found that the earlier hearing loss was service-connected, but the later hearing loss was not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Bilateral Hearing Loss due to lack of evidence supporting the occurrence of the claimed stressors in Vietnam, and thus, denial of PTSD. Service connection was also not granted for bilateral hearing loss as there was no SOC issued.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated by service, and its incurrence or aggravation during such service may not be presumed. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for right and left ear hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of total deafness in either ear, and the current levels of hearing impairment do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating, and thus denied his claim.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as incurred in service. The RO denied an increased rating for his mandibular fracture residuals and paresthesia of the fifth cranial nerve, but granted a separate rating for this condition. His depressive disorder was also granted, with no referral to extra-schedular consideration. The veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with noise exposure in service being considered as a contributing factor.