Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a compensable rating of hearing loss, finding that the criteria were not met prior to June 10, 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a compensable rating for perforated left eardrum, finding that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD, residuals of a cold injury of the left and right feet, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a fracture of the right clavicle, an inactive ulcer, and inactive hepatitis, prior to November 6, 1998.

The effective date for removing the veteran's former spouse as a dependent for purposes of computation of disability pension benefits is established as August 1, 1998. The veteran's appeal is granted to this extent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and bilateral flat foot disabilities are service-connected, with the flat feet being incurred in service. The hearing loss is not presumed due to noise exposure but was found to be directly related to service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic bronchitis with early COPD, Dupuytren's contractures of both hands, and tinnitus, have rendered him unemployable.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss. The veteran's right ear hearing loss is considered to be of service origin, while the left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability as defined by VA.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation prior to June 10, 1999 and a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that his average puretone thresholds did not exceed levels contemplated for the currently assigned noncompensable rating under both the previous and amended regulations.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred in service and granted service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that no claim was filed prior to August 11, 2000.

The case is being remanded for further development and consideration of the veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for right ear hearing loss, including a review of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2002.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current evidence supports these claims due to exposure to acoustic trauma in service.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the current criteria do not warrant such an increase.

The veteran's sensorineural bilateral hearing loss is manifested by Level I hearing loss in the right ear and Level VII hearing loss in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable disability evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not have prostate cancer, hearing loss, hypertension, or a back disorder during his active service. The Board also found no evidence of such conditions within one year after separation from active service. Therefore, the claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss in the right ear, finding that there was no medical or audiological evidence linking current hearing loss to his active service or to service-connected otitis media.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Board found no evidence of current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied the veteran's claims for service connection in this case.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation at any point during the appeal period.