Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not due to noise exposure during service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling. The evidence does not support an increase in the assigned rating, and therefore his claim for an increased rating is denied.

The VA denied a compensable evaluation for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his unassisted hearing acuity did not warrant any higher rating based on the objective medical evidence.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his hearing acuity did not warrant such a rating based on VA examination results.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be a result of noise exposure during his period of active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his claim for service connection for a back disorder was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for exceptional pattern of hearing impairment or establish service connection for the back disorder.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and left ear hearing loss. The issue of a higher initial rating for right ear hearing loss is pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is of service origin and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 10, 1999 and 20 percent on or after that date. The veteran's labyrinthine irritation resulting from bilateral stapedectomies for otosclerosis is currently rated at 30 percent.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and increased evaluations for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, finding that he did not meet the criteria for a hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board found that the appellant does not have hearing loss that was incurred in service or which may be presumed to have been incurred in service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not warrant an increased disability evaluation, with the current ratings being considered appropriate based on the severity of his symptoms as reflected in audiometric test results.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing left and right ear hearing loss disabilities were aggravated by in-service noise exposure, warranting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, stomach ulcers, residuals of frostbite of the feet, and post-traumatic stress disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of a higher initial evaluation for PTSD remains pending.

The veteran's right ear hearing loss is not considered to be caused or worsened by the October 1997 VA surgery, and thus he does not meet the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not warrant such a rating.