Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. He is now presumed sound with respect to eczema of the elbows, which he developed during active duty service. His foot disability (pes planus and hallux valgus) was noted at entry into service.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeal regarding whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for hearing loss. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to consider this matter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking his current hearing loss to his military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss from June 17, 2011 to October 12, 2017 was denied. A subsequent increase to a 10% rating effective October 12, 2017 is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his audiometric testing results do not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and asbestosis) are rated at 90 percent combined, which meets the schedular requirement for a TDIU rating. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable due to their severity and his limited education and work experience.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals regarding the reopening of claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss were denied, but new evidence submitted since the last denial does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. The left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran now has service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently manifested by Level XI hearing in the right ear and Level I hearing in the left ear, resulting in a 10 percent disability rating. The Board finds that this level of hearing impairment does not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining STRs and arranging for an audiological evaluation to determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, as well as a TDIU claim. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure all relevant evidence is considered in the decision-making process.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but these claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current hearing disabilities.