Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or high cholesterol for VA purposes, and thus service connection cannot be granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 21, 2014 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating before May 16, 2014.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for PFB was also denied. The VA examiner noted no scarring or disfigurement and opined that the condition was stable and asymptomatic.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has determined that TDIU should be granted.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss with serous otomastoiditis and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee arthritis have been denied.,A separate 10 percent rating has been granted for right knee instability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of hearing loss during or within one year after service. The VA examiners provided opinions indicating that any hearing loss diagnosed later in life is more likely due to post-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure. The left ankle/foot condition claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, deviated septum, headaches, tinnitus, and a stomach disability are granted. A rating of 70 percent is assigned for PTSD prior to January 14, 2014.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are now granted as they arose during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened and granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, low back disability, neck disability, parotid gland neoplasm, radiculopathy of upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy of upper extremities, radiculopathy of lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of lower extremities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board also granted service connection for both conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest within one year of service discharge and is not causally or etiologically related to service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence against the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during or as a result of his military service, and thus denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently assigned a noncompensable evaluation, and the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss do not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their combined rating of 60 percent. However, his unemployability is attributed to his PTSD symptoms which render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100% disability rating effective August 26, 2010. He is also service connected for right ear hearing loss but not for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for an updated VA hearing loss examination and to obtain relevant treatment records. The issue of evaluating his bilateral hearing loss disability remains on hold until further notice.