Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right ear disorder due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The claims for a bilateral shoulder disability, back disorder, left knee disability, residuals of Agent Orange exposure, and dental condition are all pending.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's right ear hearing loss, which was currently rated as noncompensably disabling.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and denied for chronic ear infection, residuals of a snake bite, and recurrent skin disorder. The veteran's claims for these conditions are based on direct service connection rather than any presumption or exposure basis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of his bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a bilateral knee condition. The veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is rated at 40 percent, effective from November 29, 2001. His bilateral knee condition was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is likely due to in-service acoustic trauma and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss that warranted a compensable evaluation from April 3, 1984 through March 28, 2000.

The Board denied an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the schedular criteria did not meet the requirements.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of cold injury, hypertension, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing the conditions were related to his military service.

The Board denied an increased rating for sinusitis and found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for hearing loss.

The veteran's skin condition and bilateral hearing loss were not found to be service-connected due to exposure to herbicides or any other basis. The appeal is denied.

The veteran's claimed conditions, including bronchitis, gastroenteritis, arthritis of the hands, a chronic back disorder, a chronic neck disorder, and hearing loss and/or tinnitus, are not shown to be related to military service. The RO has denied all claims for service connection.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a compensable rating of hearing loss, finding that the criteria were not met prior to June 10, 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a compensable rating for perforated left eardrum, finding that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD, residuals of a cold injury of the left and right feet, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a fracture of the right clavicle, an inactive ulcer, and inactive hepatitis, prior to November 6, 1998.

The effective date for removing the veteran's former spouse as a dependent for purposes of computation of disability pension benefits is established as August 1, 1998. The veteran's appeal is granted to this extent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and bilateral flat foot disabilities are service-connected, with the flat feet being incurred in service. The hearing loss is not presumed due to noise exposure but was found to be directly related to service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic bronchitis with early COPD, Dupuytren's contractures of both hands, and tinnitus, have rendered him unemployable.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss. The veteran's right ear hearing loss is considered to be of service origin, while the left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability as defined by VA.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation prior to June 10, 1999 and a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss.