Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the veteran's current tinnitus is causally connected to his in-service noise exposure. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating prior to February 12, 2008, and a rating in excess of 10 percent from February 12, 2008.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but granted service connection for PTSD with a 30 percent initial disability evaluation effective from June 23, 2004. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional VA medical records.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have been rated as noncompensably disabling since February 2, 2004. The Board finds no evidence of compensable disability for bilateral hearing loss or knee disabilities.

The veteran's hiatal hernia is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and his left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for VA disability benefits.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination to assess his current level of hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss disability in either ear, and thus service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The veteran is granted TDIU prior to October 31, 2006 due to service-connected disabilities. The issue of TDIU as of October 31, 2006, has been rendered moot.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, pes planus, knee and hip conditions, a head condition, and a heart condition. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to military service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the worst level of impairment being Level VII in the right ear and Level I in the left ear. The Board finds that this does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is due to disease or injury incurred in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service medical records and further development is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are attributable to noise exposure during the veteran's active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition. The VA examiner found no evidence linking his hearing loss and tinnitus to military service, concluding that these conditions are not related to his time in active duty.

The veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 10, 2008 was denied. A subsequent claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for the same condition from that date forward was also denied.

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

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (chronic low back pain syndrome, major depression, and tinnitus) render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The claim for tinnitus remains pending as further examination and opinion are needed.