Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not incurred in service.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, resulting in a denial of his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no increase in his hearing acuity during service and thus no basis to grant service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current tinnitus to service, and the veteran's hearing loss did not warrant a higher disability rating.

The veteran's hearing loss is service-connected, and his AHD was initially granted a noncompensable rating in November 1973. The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is of service origin due to noise exposure during military service. For AHD, the Board determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent prior to January 12, 1998 under either the old or new rating criteria. However, effective January 3, 2003, the veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated a workload of 3 or less METS resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 30 percent. Therefore, a 100 percent evaluation was granted.

The Board found no evidence to support a link between the appellant's military service and his current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, thus denying his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in his left ear and hypertension, finding no new evidence to support reopening of these previously denied claims.

The veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities effective October 14, 1998.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not due to noise exposure during service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling. The evidence does not support an increase in the assigned rating, and therefore his claim for an increased rating is denied.

The VA denied a compensable evaluation for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his unassisted hearing acuity did not warrant any higher rating based on the objective medical evidence.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that his hearing acuity did not warrant such a rating based on VA examination results.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be a result of noise exposure during his period of active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his claim for service connection for a back disorder was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for exceptional pattern of hearing impairment or establish service connection for the back disorder.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and left ear hearing loss. The issue of a higher initial rating for right ear hearing loss is pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is of service origin and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 10, 1999 and 20 percent on or after that date. The veteran's labyrinthine irritation resulting from bilateral stapedectomies for otosclerosis is currently rated at 30 percent.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.