Hearing loss decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss of the right ear is etiologically related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and finds that new evidence submitted since the final denial shows a current diagnosis of hearing loss related to military service.

The veteran does not have sufficiently severe hearing loss in his right ear to be considered a disability by VA standards, and thus, he does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service connection claim for a punctured ear drum with hearing loss of the left ear is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to active duty service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his military service. The veteran had pre-existing hearing loss in his left ear prior to entering service, which did not worsen during service. His right ear hearing loss was within normal limits at discharge.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a service-connected hearing loss of the right ear and finds that an initial rating higher than 10 percent for hearing loss of the left ear is not warranted.

The VA has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not compensable, but he was granted a 30 percent evaluation for migraines from May 16, 2006. The Board found that his headaches were productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The veteran is seeking to reopen his claim of service connection for residuals of concussion (claimed as headaches and dizzy spells) and right ear hearing loss. The case has been remanded due to the need for a Board hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his hearing loss was not incurred during service or due to noise exposure, and his tinnitus did not have a direct link to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical opinions and missing Social Security Administration records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss does not warrant an initial compensable rating, and his tinnitus claim is denied as it cannot be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The TDIU issue remains pending.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as currently evaluated at 20 percent, does not warrant a higher evaluation based on his most recent audiometric findings.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not warrant an initial compensable evaluation prior to April 26, 2007, and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any hearing loss pathology.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including in-service noise exposure. As such, the claims for service connection are granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and rash are not related to service. Therefore, these claims have been denied.