Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The veteran's hearing loss was not present during or related to his service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred due to a one-year presumption. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a link between the veteran's current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board denied the attorney's eligibility for fees based on a March 5, 2002 rating decision granting TDIU. The issue was not about service connection but rather the eligibility of past-due benefits resulting from the award.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the August 1967 rating decision and denying an earlier effective date.

The veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable (0 percent) due to the average decibel threshold being between 26 and 26.25, which corresponds to Level II hearing in both ears.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for his bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability were denied. The current evaluations are considered appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is as likely as not incurred during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension at the housebound rate is denied as he does not meet the legal criteria for payment of such benefits.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable disability evaluation schedule.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, which was previously denied in September 1998.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss and left ear otitis media with mastoiditis, as well as reopening the claim for service connection for tinnitus. The veteran's tinnitus is associated with his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and left ear otitis media with mastoiditis.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for hearing loss, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disease and hearing loss disability. The claim of reopening a previously denied arthritis claim was also denied.

The Board finds that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his inservice acoustic trauma, and grants service connection for this condition.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an increased rating, as his current hearing levels do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the veteran's exposure to noise during his military service.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but it does not grant the claim as service connection is decided on the merits.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are directly related to his military service, including exposure to noise from firearms and aircraft during active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 2, 1998, for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability on a basis other than clear and unmistakable error.