Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, effective July 31, 2000.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of shrapnel wound to the left arm, finding no evidence of a current disability or medical link to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for chronic suppurative otitis media of the left ear and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The claim for an earlier effective date for a 10 percent disability evaluation for tinnitus prior to April 23, 2000 was also denied.

The veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of in-service hearing problems or a nexus to current hearing issues.

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

The veteran's tinnitus is rated at a 10 percent evaluation effective June 10, 2003. The RO has not yet considered the other issues and ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, ear infections and a perforated eardrum, ulcers, and hepatitis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his amblyopia exanopsia with secondary defective vision and bilateral hearing loss, finding that neither condition warranted a rating in excess of the current evaluations.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for otitis media/externa, bilateral, status postoperative mastoidectomy with tinnitus and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for sinusitis, hearing loss, and right thumb disability. The Board dismissed the appeal of the issue regarding increased ratings for low back strain due to lack of a timely substantive appeal.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and entitlement to an increased rating for macular papular rash/eczema. The RO is instructed to consider these issues again, including a review of the new regulatory criteria for skin disorders effective August 30, 2002.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from his providers.

The VA denied a higher initial evaluation for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the criteria did not warrant an increase.

The Board found that the veteran's current conditions, including left ear hearing loss, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with chronic bronchitis, perforation of right tympanic membrane, and arteriosclerotic heart disease, are not related to his active duty service. The claims for these conditions were denied as there is no evidence linking them to service.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case is now being sent back to the RO for a VA examination and review of the claims file.

The Board has remanded the case for readjudication due to recent legal changes, and the RO should consider all evidence received since the statement of the case.