Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for vitiligo of the arms and chest was denied. The claim to reopen his service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied as no new and material evidence had been presented.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for VA outpatient dental treatment and payment or reimbursement of private dental expenses due to lack of evidence showing a service-connected disability, medical emergency, or other qualifying circumstances.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating and an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss was denied. The RO assigned a noncompensable rating and the earliest possible effective date based on the reopening of his claim in October 2001.

The Board found no evidence of a service injury and concluded that the appellant's current back, hearing loss, and tinnitus conditions are not related to his military service.

The veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% disability evaluation effective June 27, 1996. His tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were each assigned noncompensable evaluations. The veteran is entitled to an increased disability evaluation for PTSD from November 16, 1992, but the issue of earlier TDIU effective date prior to June 27, 1996 is moot due to the grant of a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss disability is the result of his in-service noise exposure, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 1996 was denied as there is no evidence of a compensable level of disability during this period.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding no new evidence to reopen his peptic ulcer disease claim. The nerve damage affecting extremities was not shown to be related to service or a service-connected condition. Erectile dysfunction and memory loss with hearing impairment were also not found to be service-connected.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss was granted, with the effective date being July 14, 1998. The current evaluation is 30 percent since that date.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The veteran's claims for increased evaluation of right ear hearing loss and reopening of left knee and low back disability claims are pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cluster headaches, hearing loss in the left ear, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are service-connected as they were first shown during his second period of active duty.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the most recent VA audiometric findings showed level III hearing acuity in both ears, which equates to a noncompensable disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss of the right ear, sinusitis, a right shoulder disorder, and a left hand disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss is related to his active duty service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and thus denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is not related to his period of active service.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was first manifested to a degree of 10 percent within one year of his discharge from active duty service, allowing for presumptive service connection.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated noncompensable, and the Board found that his hearing acuity did not warrant a compensable rating.

The VA has denied a higher rating for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, currently rated at 50 percent.