Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD claim is granted, and his bilateral hearing loss rating is restored to 10% effective November 4, 2015.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but did not address whether the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure. The decision was mixed as it denied reopening of the claim but did not definitively state a denial of service connection.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for all disabilities, finding that no claim was made prior to November 18, 2010.

The Board is remanding the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of new evidence and a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted effective May 15, 2014. The appeal is based on a direct service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left ankle disability have been granted service connection, with the left ankle disability receiving a 20% rating prior to May 19, 2017 and an increased rating of 20% thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his in-service noise exposure and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including exposure to noise in training. As such, these conditions have been granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbosacral and cervical spine disabilities had their onset in active service or are related to in-service injuries. The Board finds that the most probative evidence of record shows that these conditions have a direct relationship with his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran also did not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, and therefore, an extraschedular referral was not warranted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted. The claims for reopening service connection for cervical spine disability and right shoulder nerve disability are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and noise exposure during service. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability or residuals of a ruptured left eardrum, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiometric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his asserted left ear hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 30 percent effective March 6, 2009. The claim for TDIU is pending.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated during service and is not attributable to service. The evidence did not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology for an organic disease of the nervous system within one year following service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that TDIU is granted from April 17, 2012 to May 13, 2013, and from September 1, 2013.