Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for a back disorder, hearing loss disability, and mental disorder are not well-grounded as there is no evidence of injury or disease incurred during active duty training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty training (INACDTRA).

The Board found that the veteran's current hearing loss is not related to an in-service disease or injury, including noise exposure. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's hearing loss was incurred during service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to the veteran's exposure to loud noises during his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss began during his active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an extraschedular evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the disability picture did not warrant such a rating due to lack of marked interference with employment or frequent inpatient care.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability and the veteran failed to report for an examination necessary to determine the presence of such a disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied.

The veteran's service-connected recurrent urinary tract infections are currently rated as 10 percent disabling, bilateral hearing loss is not compensable, and the appendectomy scar is also rated as 10 percent.

The Board found service connection granted for bilateral conductive hearing loss, but denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not incurred in service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to an earlier effective date than June 2, 2000, for the grant of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not incurred in service.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, resulting in a denial of his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no increase in his hearing acuity during service and thus no basis to grant service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current tinnitus to service, and the veteran's hearing loss did not warrant a higher disability rating.

The veteran's hearing loss is service-connected, and his AHD was initially granted a noncompensable rating in November 1973. The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is of service origin due to noise exposure during military service. For AHD, the Board determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent prior to January 12, 1998 under either the old or new rating criteria. However, effective January 3, 2003, the veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated a workload of 3 or less METS resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 30 percent. Therefore, a 100 percent evaluation was granted.

The Board found no evidence to support a link between the appellant's military service and his current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, thus denying his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in his left ear and hypertension, finding no new evidence to support reopening of these previously denied claims.

The veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities effective October 14, 1998.