Hearing loss decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for left ear hearing loss prior to January 15, 1999, finding that his puretone thresholds did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board finds that the currently demonstrated bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to exposure to acoustic trauma during the veteran's military service, and grants service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated at a noncompensable disability rating. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the assignment of a compensable rating for his hearing loss.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, Meniere's disease, and tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for hypertension (reopening of a previously denied claim), right thumb scars, and residuals of inguinal herniorrhaphy. The decision on the issue of service connection for bilateral knee disability was not provided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset during active military duty.,The veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and chronic headaches were also not shown to have had their onset during active military duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the right ear claim and that there was no evidence linking current hearing loss to service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as 10 percent disabling from February 26, 2004 to March 23, 2005 and remains at that level. From March 24, 2005, the rating is still 10 percent.

Your appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and found that his hearing loss claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, and there is no established in-service stressor or link between current symptoms and military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating, as his audiometric test results do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not service-connected. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or connection to military service for these conditions.

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

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

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability did not warrant a compensable rating, as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ear hearing loss and left knee degenerative joint disease are not supported by the evidence of record, resulting in a denial of both claims.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for a lower back disability, tinnitus, and new and material evidence for bilateral hearing loss. The VA found no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that there is no current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and thus denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that there is no legal entitlement to an effective date earlier than January 24, 2000 for the grant of service connection of hearing loss and chloracne. The veteran's claims were denied initially in 1996 due to lack of evidence of chronic disability subject to service connection. He attempted to reopen his claims multiple times but did not provide new and material evidence within one year of each denial. In February 2000, the RO received inquiries from Senators Smith and Wyden regarding the veteran's claims, which were construed as a claim to reopen. The effective date was set at January 24, 2000, based on these inquiries.