Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at a noncompensable level from December 23, 2005 to May 18, 2006 and granted a 10% rating thereafter.

The Board denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and the claim of entitlement to a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability. The Veteran's appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including a new VA examination of the Veteran's hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hearing loss is related to service, and grants service connection for hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right ear disorder and denied his service connection claim. The issue of an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but only received a noncompensable disability rating prior to June 27, 2009, and a 20 percent disability rating from that date onwards. Service connection for tinnitus was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for hearing loss disability and tinnitus, as there is no evidence of a chronic, identifiable hearing loss disability or tinnitus in or after service. Therefore, the appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA medical records. The Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for chronic bilateral hearing loss, which he claims is due to in-service noise exposure. The Board has determined that further VA evaluation and consideration of the issue are necessary.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating to reflect his current level of disability. The Veteran also has service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his active duty service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss attributable to active military service and the claim is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted, but the effective dates cannot be earlier than October 2, 2008 as no prior claim was filed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and therefore service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of service treatment records and the need for further examination regarding hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.