Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The veteran's claim for an increased rating of left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and review of the evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a verified seizure disorder, hearing loss disability, facial and eye pain, right big toe disorder (including bunion and bruise), bone spurs, or leg pain due to service. Service connection is denied for all issues.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by hearing found to be no worse than level II on each ear, and the schedular criteria for a compensable evaluation have not been met.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, essential hypertension, degenerative arthritis, and a left inguinal hernia. The claim of reopening the hearing loss was granted, but service connection is not warranted.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye disorder, bilateral hearing loss, shoulder disorders, skin disorder, and liver disorder. The conditions were not found to be related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD or right ear hearing loss disability, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied. The veteran's coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus are also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and arthritis of the right knee and hip, finding no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is granted because his bilateral hearing loss renders him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, hypertension, depression, low back strain, and bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for extra-schedular consideration.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which began during his service in the Navy, is found to have been incurred in service and granted service connection.

The veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his current hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure in service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's defective hearing and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically during periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss disability was aggravated by his active military service, and therefore grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis and bilateral hearing loss, finding the veteran did not show good cause for failing to appear for a VA examination. The Board also found that the hearing loss was not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's right ankle and right knee disorders, as well as tinnitus, are still under consideration.