Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to active service. Therefore, his claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete service medical records and a need for additional examinations.

The veteran withdrew his claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus before the Board could make a decision.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is 80 percent, with at least 40 percent of the disabilities pertaining to orthopedic issues. Medical opinions indicate he is unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to the veteran's in-service noise exposure. Service connection for bladder cancer is also granted based on the opinion of a private physician who linked the condition to inservice radiation and chemical exposure.

The veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the current non-compensable rating was appropriate based on audiometric test results.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development needed, including obtaining an opinion from a VA audiologist and transferring the claims folder to the Chief of the Audiology-Speech Pathology Clinic at VAMC in Little Rock.

The Board has determined that the RO committed error in denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss at the time of the February 1955 rating decision. The effective date will be the date of receipt of claim or date entitlement arose, whichever is later.

The Board found that the veteran's right ear hearing loss and carpal tunnel syndrome, left wrist, do not warrant higher disability ratings. The veteran's tinnitus was rated as 10 percent disabling prior to June 10, 2003, but no higher rating is warranted from that date forward. The veteran's right thumb fracture and bilateral Eustachian tube dysfunction are each rated at the minimum of 0 percent. The veteran's post-operative pilonidal cyst, right leg, and torn medial meniscus, right knee, are also rated at the minimum of 10 percent.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and did not address his claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to acoustic trauma in service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a hearing loss disability, which was previously denied in February 1984. The additional evidence submitted indicates that it is possible that the veteran's current hearing loss may be related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, concluding that there was no evidence of hearing loss during service and attributing current hearing impairment to post-service occupational noise exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted a noncompensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from June 9, 1998, to March 20, 2001. The veteran's claim is denied for evaluations in excess of this period.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of exposure to ionizing radiation. The veteran's claims were not supported by sufficient evidence or medical opinion.