Hearing loss Board decisions

The veteran's right knee disorders, including the status post right knee acute rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and traumatic arthritis, are rated at 20 percent. The left knee trauma with laceration is rated at 10 percent. The residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left upper arm (Muscle Group V) are also rated at 10 percent. The veteran's orchialgia is rated at 10 percent, and his bilateral hearing loss is rated as compensable prior to May 1, 2003, with an increased rating effective from that date.

The Board found that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not attributable to his period of active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service and grants this claim. The asbestosis claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran was exposed to noise in service and sustained these conditions as a result.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a higher initial rating, as it currently meets the criteria for a noncompensable (zero percent) disability rating.

The VA denied a higher initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, assigning a noncompensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The VA examiner found it much less likely than not that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were caused by noise exposure in service.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was not incurred as a result of noise exposure during active service.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied both the original claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and the reopened claim for tinnitus.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service. The Board also found that the veteran did not have noise exposure in service that could cause his current disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss disability for service connection purposes and denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of the veteran's service and obtaining additional VA treatment records.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by military service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred within one year of discharge. The evidence did not establish a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to hazardous noise during active duty.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and basic eligibility for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits due to lack of evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, effective January 24, 2001.

The veteran's major depression is rated at 70 percent, his left knee disability at 10 percent, and his bilateral hearing loss remains noncompensable. The total unemployability claim is granted.