Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is still pending.

The Board has determined that there is no probative evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to his military service, including noise exposure. As a result, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 29, 2014 was denied. The effective date of service connection for the condition on the basis of CUE in a March 1992 decision was also denied. TDIU was not addressed due to its being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for hearing loss was denied as the submitted records were not relevant to the August 1988 rating decision and he did not file any additional claims after that.

The Board has granted a 10% rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, effective from July 18, 2016. The non-compensable rating was previously in effect prior to that date.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30% prior to March 21, 2011 and increased to 50% from March 21, 2011 to October 15, 2012. From October 16, 2012, the Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70%. The TDIU claim is granted effective September 1, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current service-connected disabilities for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, or hepatitis C. The claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations, and thus his claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 16, 2015 was denied. From January 16, 2015 to June 14, 2015, the Veteran received a 30 percent rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. Effective from June 15, 2015, he is entitled to a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and genitourinary disorder were not incurred in service. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the in-service diagnoses.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied a disability rating in excess of 0 percent for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the criteria for such a rating are not met at any time pertinent to the period on appeal.

The Board has found clear and unmistakable error in the September 1957 rating decision, establishing an effective date of June 9, 1956 for the grant of service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no current disability related to service. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an addendum opinion regarding his hearing loss and tinnitus. His claim for PTSD with major depressive and dysthymic disorder remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes with regard to his right ear hearing loss, as it does not meet the criteria for disability for VA purposes. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD and hiatal hernia as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected duodenal ulcer. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was not addressed in the decision.

The Board has been notified by the appellant's representative that she requests withdrawal of her appeal.