Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is a result of his service in the reserve component, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has received notification from the appellant that they wish to withdraw their appeal, leading to its dismissal.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further examination. The veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease and denied service connection for a hearing loss disability. The veteran's claims were based on his POW captivity, but the denial of both conditions is due to lack of edema during captivity for heart disease and no competent medical evidence linking current hearing loss to service.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during active military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred in service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, chronic bilateral foot disability, back disability, dental disorder, and sinusitis, were not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service. The VA has provided extensive development of the claims but found no evidence to support these assertions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for updated medical records and examinations.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability in either condition that would warrant compensation. The evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss did not have its onset during service and is not related to an in-service disease or injury. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the appellant was exposed to acoustic trauma during service and that his current hearing loss disability is related to this exposure. The Board also found that his tinnitus is secondary to his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including requesting additional evidence from the U.S. Armed Services Center for Research of Unit Records and arranging for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran has PTSD or other psychiatric disorders related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, including in his left ear, is a result of noise exposure during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and found that the veteran's pre-service hearing loss was aggravated by active service. The issue of an increased rating for low back disability is remanded.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be due to service exposure, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and cephalgia. The veteran was granted service connection for these conditions but his initial evaluations were found to be inadequate.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at 40 percent, the highest possible rating under VA guidelines.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include loss of vision due to ocular histoplasmosis and tinnitus, are severe enough to prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and hearing loss, finding no evidence to support these claims.