Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The veteran's chronic tinnitus is granted service connection as it may not reasonably be dissociated from his already established service-connected hearing loss in the left ear.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at 0 percent, which is the lowest possible rating. The Board found that his current level of disability does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased evaluation for post-cyst removal scars on the back of the neck, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims. The skin disorder is currently evaluated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was incurred during service due to noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claims of service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the new evidence submitted did not meet the criteria for being 'new and material' as it was either cumulative or redundant.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by in-service exposure to acoustic trauma while performing his duties as an aircraft maintenance specialist.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral elbow disorder, bilateral shoulder disability, cellulitis of the left thigh, and pulmonary tuberculosis were denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions. The claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was granted as within normal limits.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss, which was previously denied in October 1952. The additional service medical records provide a more complete picture of the veteran's hearing acuity during his service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's status post wedge resection of a pulmonary nodule, caseating granuloma of the right lobe is related to asbestos exposure during his military service. The hearing loss and sinusitis claims are denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to May 16, 2002 and in excess of 20 percent from May 16, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a chronic gastrointestinal disorder related to his active service and denied entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board determined that the veteran's initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was correct and maintained this rating.

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The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but his bilateral hearing loss and right knee disorder are not. His back disorder is also service-connected.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was incurred in service due to noise exposure during boot camp, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his noise exposure during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the appellant. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an extraschedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left ear hearing disability, finding that there was no medical evidence regarding impairment of earning capacity.