Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service. The veteran must undergo a VA audiometry examination to determine if he currently suffers from these disabilities, and whether they are related to his military service.

The Board's decisions denying service connection for various conditions were found to be clearly and unmistakably erroneous, leading to their revision.

The veteran's hearing loss and low back disability have been granted, with a 10% rating for the low back disability.

The Board found that the results of the audiometric examinations conducted during the appeal period were unreliable and thus did not provide a basis to grant a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss warrants a 10 percent extra-schedular evaluation due to its impact on his employment, forcing him to switch from operating heavy machinery to working as a mechanic.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is a result of acoustic trauma sustained during military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cervical spine disability have been shown to be causally related to his military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent and does not warrant a higher rating based on current evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any current disabilities related to his service, including urinary tract infections, poor vision, hearing loss disability, and gastrointestinal disorders. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus and determined that new and material evidence has been submitted.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss as a direct result of noise exposure during active military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as evidenced by a lack of objective evidence during active duty and no worsening noted in post-service medical records. The claimant's hearing loss was attributed to noise exposure from his employment at Bethlehem Steel Corporation.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing acuity does not warrant any compensation.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of residuals of a lumbosacral microdiskectomy, with recurrent back pain and numbness of the right foot, and bilateral hearing loss should be July 1, 1999. The veteran's claims for increased evaluations are remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 10% rating effective from August 21, 2000. The veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss was also granted. However, the decision did not address or grant service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date of June 1, 1999, for DIC benefits granted in her reopened claim. The appeal was based on a liberalizing law that became effective in 1993 and assigned an effective date more than one year after its enactment.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than July 10, 1998 for service connection for tinnitus and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The RO granted an increased rating of 20 percent for his bilateral hearing loss as of June 10, 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating before November 27, 2002 and grants a 10% disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss as of November 27, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for left shoulder dislocation with impingement syndrome and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.