Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is established under continuity of symptomology and grants service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as there are no VA audiological examinations in the record.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a respiratory disorder were denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board found that the current diagnoses are not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. However, both conditions were not shown during service or within one year of separation, and there is no medical nexus linking current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, as his combined rating is less than the required 60% for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, as his lay statements along with other evidence support this conclusion. As a result, the appeal for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected due to the lack of continuous total disability rating for at least ten years prior to his death. The Veteran had multiple disabilities, but they were rated as separate conditions and did not meet the criteria for a single condition that would qualify him for a 100% combined evaluation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure all relevant evidence is considered in the decision on appeal. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are caused or aggravated by his active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his degree of hearing loss did not meet the standards for a compensable evaluation during the appeal period.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was determined to be October 25, 2012, which is the date of receipt of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for an initial, compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his audiometric testing results have consistently shown Level I hearing in both ears, which corresponds to a zero percent (noncompensable) rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new evidence received since the previous denial supports a finding of in-service noise exposure and continued hearing problems.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and information from the Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of the currently assigned 10 percent disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, related to service. The Veteran's dermatophytosis and bilateral hearing loss do not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service. The weight of the evidence does not support a finding that his current hearing loss disability is related to active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board. The Veteran also appealed his TDIU claim, and this decision addresses that issue as well.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his military service, specifically noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and has been granted. However, the Veteran does not have a current disability for bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.