Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's residuals of a fracture of the right thumb, residuals of a fracture of the left seventh rib (claimed as chest pain), and bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable (0 percent), and the Board denied an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss with tinnitus originated during his active duty service and is therefore granted as service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss of the right ear and granted a noncompensable disability evaluation for hearing loss of the left ear. The veteran's hearing acuity in his left ear was found to be within normal limits, but he had significant threshold shift consistent with noise-induced hearing loss.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding the denial of service connection for PTSD because the veteran did not timely file a substantive appeal. The claim for bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, concluding that it was not incurred or aggravated during service and could not be presumed due to noise exposure. The VA examiner found no evidence of hearing loss at the time of separation from service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for megacolon and hearing loss due to malaria medications. The claim for atrial fibrillation due to malaria medication is denied as there is no medical evidence of current disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current level of disability warranted a noncompensable rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury, residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left hand, and bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence submitted since the July 1998 decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, increased ratings for hypertension and perforation of the left tympanic membrane with hearing loss. The veteran did not provide evidence to support his claim for PTSD due to lack of a confirmed stressor. His hypertension was rated as noncompensable because his diastolic readings were consistently below 100 and he took medication that controlled it. For the perforation of the left tympanic membrane with hearing loss, the veteran's hearing in the service-connected ear was still within normal limits.

The veteran's case is being remanded to the RO for further development and a rating decision on whether hearing loss in both ears (right and left) is service connected.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was granted with an effective date of January 21, 2000.

The VA determined that the veteran's noncompensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is not adequate based on his audiometric test results, and thus denied his claim.

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing impairment does not warrant a higher rating than 20 percent. The evidence showed consistent levels of V in both ears at worst, which corresponds to a 20 percent rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as it is manifested by at most level I hearing in both ears.

The Board found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss. However, due to conflicting findings regarding PTSD, the appeal is considered mixed as some issues were granted while others were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back disability are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease leading to these conditions.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is attributable to noise exposure during active duty.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for tinnitus and hearing loss, as well as service connection for cancer of the neck due to exposure to Agent Orange, were denied by the RO. The RO found that there was no evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to his military service or to exposure to herbicide agents used in Vietnam.