Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating. The effective date for this increased rating is November 17, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for left hip disability, right hip disability, pinched nerve in the back, right hand disability, and right arm, shoulder, and elbow disabilities are denied. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service acoustic trauma, thus granting service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service and granted a 10% rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the appellant's claims for service connection and TDIU, including obtaining verification of her periods of active duty training (ADT) after 1980, obtaining all relevant VA and non-VA treatment records, scheduling a VA audiology examination, and verifying SSA disability benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, left elbow disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disabilities. The Veteran's dermatitis claim was granted with a 10 percent rating effective June 27, 2011.

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. Affording the Veteran the benefit of the doubt, it is at least as likely as not that his current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to acoustic trauma during active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of increased decibel loss during service. The separation examination showed normal hearing, and subsequent audiometric testing did not show any significant increase in hearing loss.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as well as whether it is related to service-connected tinnitus. The case will be remanded for these actions.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and any functional effects resulting from such. The case will be readjudicated after all necessary actions are completed.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations and therefore denied his claim of service connection for hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 80 percent disabling, and the Board has found that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence of record. The issue of TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20 percent from October 27, 2016, forward. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including those presumed due to in-service radiation exposure, have been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and a need for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to May 11, 2017. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding of TDIU prior to this date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her VA treatment records and a new VA examination to determine the current severity of her service-connected bilateral hearing loss.