Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to his failure to report for a VA examination without providing good cause.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss to his period of active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The VA denied a compensable initial rating for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as his average pure tone thresholds did not exceed levels contemplated for the currently assigned noncompensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including hemorrhoids, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, hypertension, and residuals of a left thumb fracture, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding that any current disabilities are related to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of April 27, 2000 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus. The veteran argued that his September 1984 application should be construed as a claim for tinnitus, but the Board found no mention of ringing or buzzing in the ears, noise in his head, an ear problem, or something that could reasonably include tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for mastoiditis and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. However, it was determined that his current hearing loss is not related to service and thus denied these claims. The claim for increased ratings for gunshot wound residuals of the left leg and right shoulder were also addressed.

The veteran's hearing loss corresponds to numeric designations no worse than Level I for each ear, and therefore does not warrant a compensable disability rating.

The VA denied an increased (compensable) rating for service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, as the evidence did not show more than Level III hearing impairment on the left and Level II on the right.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for right ear hearing loss, which he claimed was caused by a failure to diagnose meningitis at a VA outpatient clinic. The VA concluded that the hearing loss was not due to negligence or an unforeseen event and was likely the natural progression of his meningitis.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and granted a 20% rating for the appellant's low back disability, effective February 24, 2000.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were caused by acoustic trauma in service, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as it is currently manifested by Level I and Level II hearing acuity in both ears.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the current 10% rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition based on VA audiological evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, status post aortofemoral bypass for peripheral vascular disease with claudication and clots, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and an eye disability. The appeals were based on direct evidence of these conditions.

The veteran's hearing acuity is no worse than level I for each ear, and the Board finds that a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is not warranted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence submitted, including opinions from Drs. Shea and Cummings indicating potential service causation.