Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for PTSD. Service connection for a stomach disability is also granted, but only as secondary to medications related to other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as he withdrew his claim prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for hearing loss is denied, and a 40 percent disability rating for the neurological disorder of the left upper extremity is granted effective August 24, 2010. The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for back disability, bilateral lower extremity sciatica, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a compensable rating for perforated tympanic membrane, right ear were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and determined that the current noncompensable rating for perforated tympanic membrane, right ear is appropriate.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable (zero percent) throughout the appeal period due to the lack of evidence showing a pattern of exceptional hearing impairment or functional impairment warranting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 21, 2008.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated and found to correspond to no more than a 0 percent rating, which is the lowest possible rating under VA regulations. The Board denied the claim for an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is related to service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cognitive disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and intermittent explosive disorder have been granted service connection. The Veteran also has current diagnoses for a skin condition and psychiatric disorders (including psychosis and temperament issues).

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred or caused by his active duty service. As a result, the claim for service connection for both conditions is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The examiner will provide opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss began during active service, or is related to any incident of service, including noise exposure as an aircraft maintenance specialist.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated and found to be manifested by a puretone threshold average of 41 decibels in the right ear, 63 dB in the left ear, with speech discrimination scores of 88% for the right ear and 78% for the left ear. The VA rating schedule did not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation than 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for bronchitis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his in-service respiratory issues and smoking. The other claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran currently has a current diagnosis of tinnitus, and based on credible lay statements concerning the onset and continuity of tinnitus in service, the criteria for service connection are met. Service connection is granted for tinnitus.

The Board has assigned a 50 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss as of November 13, 2017. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's hair loss, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, back disability, and left shoulder disability have been granted service connection. The rating for tinnitus has also been granted at a maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not service-connected, and his PTSD is granted a 70% rating prior to December 19, 2012. The Veteran is also granted TDIU effective April 21, 2010.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as level I in the right ear and level VI in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board found that these ratings did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.