Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral otitis externa and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there were no current manifestations of these conditions and thus no basis to grant higher evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence to support these conditions or their relationship to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and periodic earaches, finding no competent medical evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but his claim to reopen service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury and bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability related to service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a surgical chest scar, an eye disability, hypertension, and hearing loss. The evidence did not show current manifestations of these conditions.

The veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss is denied by operation of law as his current hearing acuity does not meet the threshold requirements for a disability under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss as defined by VA standards, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's history of noise exposure in service, combined with current hearing loss disability, supports a finding that his hearing loss is related to service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability that meets VA's criteria for a hearing loss disability.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service or any noise exposure therein, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The VA denied an increased rating for right ear hearing loss, finding the veteran's current level of impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The veteran is granted a separate 10% disability rating for tinnitus, effective June 10, 2002. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of various ear disabilities remains denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability of either condition and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between any current disabilities and service.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his active military service, as there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his service. The Board denied both claims for service connection.

The Board determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not pre-exist service or were not aggravated by service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, and therefore service connection cannot be granted for this condition. The other issues on appeal are also denied.