Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions, including cold injury residuals and bilateral hearing loss, were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current auditory acuity levels do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD, hearing loss and tinnitus, hypertension, and residuals of a left hand injury. The evidence does not support the veteran's claims that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his active duty service.,Service records do not show any respiratory issues, hearing problems, high blood pressure, or injuries to the left hand during service. The earliest signs of COPD, hearing loss, hypertension, and a history of injury to the left hand occurred many years after service.

The Board found that there was insufficient evidence to establish a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes due to the veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, as many of his conditions were unclear or not thoroughly examined in the provided medical records.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are related to his active service. The claim for a low back disorder is reopened due to new evidence submitted since the prior final denial in April 1992.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for right arm disability was dismissed as the veteran withdrew his appeal.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of left ear acoustic trauma, to include left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The VA determined that the veteran's current left ear hearing loss is not related to his military service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which was previously denied in October 1983. The January 2003 private audiometric test report is considered new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim.

The Board finds that the veteran is entitled to a grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but requires further development with respect to his PTSD claim.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is likely due to acoustic trauma in service, and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that his hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board found that the appellant's hearing loss was not incurred in service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of a current right upper or lower extremity disability aside from his existing service-connected conditions.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for chronic otitis media and hearing loss, finding that no new evidence was presented to establish a connection between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss, sinus disorder, or left shoulder bursitis and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headache disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service. The pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service, and there is no evidence of noise exposure or other incidents in service that could have caused these conditions.