Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his hearing acuity was consistently below Level III in both ears throughout the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of chronic symptoms in service or continuity of symptomatology since service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a current disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss did not worsen during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated at 50 percent, which represents the highest possible evaluation under VA rating criteria. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bursitis of the left shoulder, cervical spine arthritis (rated at 10% prior to September 14, 2004, and at 20% therefrom), tinnitus, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bilateral hearing loss, do not render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconclusive evidence and the need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated therein.

The Board granted the Veteran's petition to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded it for further development. The case is now being returned to the Board.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 23, 2009, for a 40 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the increase in disability was not factually ascertainable within one year of the receipt of his claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss had manifested by no more than level VIII hearing in the right ear and level VII hearing in the left ear, which did not meet the criteria for an increased disability rating beyond 40 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Board finds that it is unrelated to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to noise exposure during his active duty service and grants the claim of service connection for tinnitus. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the last final denial does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as 10 percent before June 28, 2010 and 0 percent on and after that date. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional evidence, including private audiograms and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete information and need for clarification of the etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and its effects on daily activities and occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is service-connected, with the decision based on direct service connection due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service acoustic trauma and grants service connection for this condition.