Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service exposure to the aftermath of the atomic bomb in Japan. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded due to a need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a lymph node disorder presumed to be due to Agent Orange exposure. Service connection was denied for Barrett's esophagus.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus, and the veteran's history of heartburn began after his military service.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, effective from July 31, 2000, to April 6, 2003.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to noise exposure during military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing disability was not related to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as his combined compensation rating is 40 percent, which does not exceed the minimum required percentage of 60 percent.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and denied his claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a disability manifested by loss of equilibrium and an increased rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board determined that the veteran's reported hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss was granted, with a current evaluation of 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is not warranted, and the claim for an increased (compensable) evaluation for a residual scar of the skull from biopsy and surgery remains unchanged.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 60 percent effective February 1, 2003.

The veteran's claims for residuals of pneumonia and hearing loss were denied. Service connection for right wrist epicondylitis was granted with an effective date of October 18, 1993, but the claim for a higher rating remains pending.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and cysts/rash as no timely substantive appeal was filed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and perforated left eardrum are service-connected, with no new evidence required for reopening.

The veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss is denied. The claim of service connection for PTSD, to include a psychiatric condition, is granted based on the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim remains denied as there is no evidence showing a nexus between current hearing loss or tinnitus and active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to military service.