Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current disabilities.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the December 1997 and January 2001 audiometric results did not warrant such an evaluation.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The thoracic strain with degenerative arthritis was evaluated at the maximum disability rating, while lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis received separate evaluations prior to May 10, 1999 and from that date onwards. Duodenal ulcer with hiatal hernia did not meet criteria for a higher than 20 percent evaluation. Bilateral hearing loss was found to be noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss disability for service connection purposes, as his auditory thresholds are less than 40 decibels at the pertinent frequencies and word recognition ability is greater than 94 percent in each ear.

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing loss did not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his hearing impairment was within normal limits in the low and middle frequencies.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a compensable evaluation from December 9, 1992, and denied an evaluation higher than 10 percent for this disability from January 27, 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as they occurred many years after service. The compensable rating for suppurative otitis media is also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his service, including noise exposure. The claim was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss did not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating based on VA and private audiometric evaluations conducted in September 2000 and October 2001, respectively.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and lumbosacral strain, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that he is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diarrhea, and residuals of asbestos exposure due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for a psychiatric disability was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and a compensable evaluation for tinnitus, finding that the earliest date of claim was March 20, 1970.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated by his military service, as there were no records of hearing loss during service and no evidence linking it to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss, which is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 6100 (prior to and subsequent to June 10, 1999), does not warrant a higher rating as her hearing acuity in both ears does not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under either the old or new rating criteria.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for hearing loss of the right ear and an increased evaluation for otitis media with cholesteatoma, right ear.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus of the left ear is service-connected, and his right ear hearing loss is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and Meniere's disease, finding no evidence of a chronic disability related to military service.