Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case to consider new evidence and provide proper notification, including regarding reopening of the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence. The claims are now granted as both conditions are found to be related to noise exposure during active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and needs to consider whether the veteran's unemployability is due to service-connected disabilities or other factors. The veteran's education, employment history, and vocational attainment will be considered.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than March 22, 2006 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not warranted.

The veteran's request for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, otitis media, and shortening of the right leg. The decision found no new and material evidence to reopen any of these claims.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, evaluated as 10 percent disabling since May 28, 2008 and noncompensable prior to that date, does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran's vasovagal syncope with asystole and pacemaker insertion is rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that a 20% disability rating is warranted for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss as of July 8, 2008. Prior to this date, no higher rating was warranted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of cold exposure of the hands, hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his current hearing acuity levels do not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The Board grants service connection for PTSD.

The veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his employability. The VA needs to obtain an examination and opinion on the impact of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, on his ability to work.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including personnel records and a VA examination.

The veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 6, 2007 was granted. From September 6, 2007, his disability rating was increased to 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial increased (compensable) evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating at any time during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability in service and concluded that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, including noise exposure. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.