Hearing loss decisions — 2003

The Board has ordered further development due to pending requests for additional evidence. The case will be returned to the RO for obtaining service personnel records and arranging for examinations.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not due to any incident or event of active military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on the veteran's audiometric test results.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a psychiatric evaluation to determine if L. W. was permanently incapable of self-support by reason of mental or physical defect at age 18, and for consideration of new evidence that may have reopened the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and chronic sacroiliac strain have been denied. The RO has not assigned a rating in excess of the current 10 percent evaluations for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus to his service, including noise exposure. Therefore, it denied service connection for both conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his hearing loss and PTSD claims, including obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability renders him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting a TDIU.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, concluding that his current hearing loss is more likely due to age-related presbycusis rather than military service.

The veteran's right ear hearing loss is manifested by auditory acuity level VIII, resulting in a noncompensable (0%) rating for right ear hearing loss. The left ear has normal hearing.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for tinnitus. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 30 percent, but a higher rating of 50 percent is granted due to exceptional pattern of hearing impairment.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and the VA examination did not establish a link between current hearing problems and military service. The veteran's claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current hearing loss and skin disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for a lumbosacral spine disorder was denied as new and material evidence had not been presented since the prior denial. The claim for a left leg disorder was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating during any portion of the appeal period.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and post-traumatic stress disorder due to a lack of current disability evidence.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case due to pending issues regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeal is currently on hold while additional evidence is gathered.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss. However, after reviewing all available evidence, including VA outpatient treatment records and a September 1999 report of VA examination, the Board determined there is no current disability of the right ear. Therefore, the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been denied.

The Board denied a higher rating for the veteran's service-connected hearing loss of the right ear, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not attributable to in-service acoustic trauma, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.