Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that his average puretone thresholds did not exceed levels contemplated for the currently assigned noncompensable rating under both the previous and amended regulations.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred in service and granted service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that no claim was filed prior to August 11, 2000.

The case is being remanded for further development and consideration of the veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for right ear hearing loss, including a review of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2002.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current evidence supports these claims due to exposure to acoustic trauma in service.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the current criteria do not warrant such an increase.

The veteran's sensorineural bilateral hearing loss is manifested by Level I hearing loss in the right ear and Level VII hearing loss in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable disability evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not have prostate cancer, hearing loss, hypertension, or a back disorder during his active service. The Board also found no evidence of such conditions within one year after separation from active service. Therefore, the claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss in the right ear, finding that there was no medical or audiological evidence linking current hearing loss to his active service or to service-connected otitis media.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Board found no evidence of current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied the veteran's claims for service connection in this case.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation at any point during the appeal period.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment during the period from July 15, 1997 to April 12, 1999.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that these conditions did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 10 percent evaluation. The veteran's claim is now pending before the RO for further action.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset during service or within a presumptive period thereafter, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the noncompensable rating assigned was appropriate based on current audiometric findings.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a shrapnel wound to the right eye and for residuals of a fracture of the great toe. The evidence does not establish that these conditions are related to military service.