Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The Board found no evidence of hypertension during service or within the one-year presumptive period after service. The veteran's current skin disability and right ear hearing loss are not linked to his active military service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a rating of 10 percent effective June 10, 2003.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development of evidence and will consider the claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus in light of new evidence.

The VA Regional Office (RO) denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hearing loss, and refractive error. The RO granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury, bilateral hearing loss, and pneumonia. The claim to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is due to military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted. The claims for increased evaluations of the lumbar strain, right and left knee disabilities, and hemorrhoids were also granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left ear hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and remanded both the hearing loss and tinnitus claims to allow further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to October 26, 2000 for the grant of service connection for compensation and for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran was granted service connection for hypertension with a 10% evaluation effective October 26, 2000.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and dermatitis. The claim for a higher rating for residuals of a fractured nasal bone was also denied.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The case is being remanded for further development, including consideration of a November 2001 audiometric examination report.

The veteran's appeal is for a total rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The RO must ensure all VCAA notice obligations have been satisfied and request all pertinent medical records from the veteran's providers. They should also schedule VA orthopedic, audiological, and special audio examinations to determine the nature and current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence and clarification. The case is now being remanded back to the RO for a VA audiology examination.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied his claim. The February 1981 denial of the petition to reopen the claim for service connection for loss of vision was final, and since then no new and material evidence has been received.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a rating of 60 percent, which is the maximum available under current regulations.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus to his active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and granted service connection for it, along with his hearing loss. The decision also noted that the veteran had noise exposure during service.