Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure, while his left ear hearing loss is not a compensable disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO granted service connection for a scar on the right upper lip but assigned a no percent rating.

The Board finds that the veteran is entitled to service connection for residuals of a stress fracture of the left leg and bilateral hearing loss, both found to be related to his military service. The depression claim is also granted as it is determined to be secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The veteran's request to reopen his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause shown.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a disability for VA benefits purposes due to bilateral hearing loss, and therefore denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the evidence supports service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding it at least as likely as not related to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD do not meet the criteria for service connection or an increased rating, respectively. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection due to exposure during service, and there is no indication of new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for hearing loss as he did not have qualifying military service for VA disability benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for an increased rating for hemorrhoids. The veteran's depressive and anxiety disorder was rated at 50 percent disabling.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear infection, perforation of the left tympanic membrane, and hearing loss in the left ear. The appeals for increased ratings for right ear nerve deafness, scar of the right tympanic membrane, dementia secondary to PTSD, and right ear otitis media are also addressed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings for various conditions, including periodontal disease, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, low back disability, onychomycosis of the hands and feet, seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp, and reactive airway disease.

The Board has directed additional development of the claim, including forwarding the appellant's claims folder to a VA physician for interpretation of an audiological examination conducted by a non-VA physician. The case is now being remanded back to the RO for readjudication following any additional development and consideration.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating under the applicable disability evaluation criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right shoulder disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The Board found no evidence of such conditions in service or within one year post-service, and concluded that any current diagnoses are not related to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear, finding no link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is likely related to his service exposure to loud noise during combat, and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma. The claims for secondary service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as otitis media and externa of the left ear, are remanded due to procedural issues.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the other issues for further development.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, citing current audiometric test results that do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.