Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability that meets VA's criteria for a hearing loss disability.

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

The VA denied an increased rating for right ear hearing loss, finding the veteran's current level of impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The veteran is granted a separate 10% disability rating for tinnitus, effective June 10, 2002. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of various ear disabilities remains denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability of either condition and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between any current disabilities and service.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his active military service, as there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his service. The Board denied both claims for service connection.

The Board determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not pre-exist service or were not aggravated by service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, and therefore service connection cannot be granted for this condition. The other issues on appeal are also denied.

The veteran's hearing loss was not present during or related to his service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred due to a one-year presumption. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a link between the veteran's current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board denied the attorney's eligibility for fees based on a March 5, 2002 rating decision granting TDIU. The issue was not about service connection but rather the eligibility of past-due benefits resulting from the award.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the August 1967 rating decision and denying an earlier effective date.

The veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable (0 percent) due to the average decibel threshold being between 26 and 26.25, which corresponds to Level II hearing in both ears.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for his bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability were denied. The current evaluations are considered appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is as likely as not incurred during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension at the housebound rate is denied as he does not meet the legal criteria for payment of such benefits.

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

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, which was previously denied in September 1998.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss and left ear otitis media with mastoiditis, as well as reopening the claim for service connection for tinnitus. The veteran's tinnitus is associated with his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and left ear otitis media with mastoiditis.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for hearing loss, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.