Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have had its onset in or be related to his period of active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran was found unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities from November 28, 2007, to October 27, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as 10 percent disabling since August 20, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating prior to this date.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between in-service noise exposure and the development of the condition. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to May 2, 2008 was granted. The Veteran is currently rated as noncompensable for this period.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability for the claimed conditions and determined that service connection was not warranted based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied as he does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes. The claim of entitlement to a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were received on July 20, 2011. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at that date.,The Veteran's current disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss (noncompensable) and tinnitus (10%) are not higher than what was assigned.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for withdrawal of the claim seeking service connection for a disability manifested by blood in the urine. The Board also found no evidence of hearing loss during or within one year after service, and thus denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA audiological evaluation results and a supplemental opinion on the etiology of his left ear hearing loss. A VA examination will also be scheduled to determine if there is any secondary relationship between the Veteran's brain tumor and his service-connected psychomotor epilepsy.

The Board has granted a 30 percent initial disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis, effective from February 28, 2007 to May 5, 2017. The claim for service connection for migraine headaches remains denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service treatment records and VA examination reports. The case will be remanded to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's reported continuity of symptoms since service is credible. Service connection was denied for hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his in-service loud noise exposure during ACDUTRA service, leading to a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD did not result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, thus the claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision. The Veteran is granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, with depression being found more likely related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted based on continuous post-service symptoms and in-service acoustic trauma, with presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and for other development of the claims.