Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD and hearing loss have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in the grant of TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. A 10 percent rating is granted for the Veteran's left ring finger disability, considering it together with his left thumb.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is as likely as not related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the VA to obtain his treatment records from the Beaumont VA Outpatient Clinic and schedule him for a new examination. The rating assigned or effective date will be determined after this additional development.

The Board has determined that the issue of service connection for right ear hearing loss has been rendered moot due to a May 2012 rating decision granting this condition. As such, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is at least in equipoise with her in-service noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 6, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was manifested by an average puretone threshold of 56 decibels in the right ear and 60 decibels in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board found that the evidence did not support entitlement to a higher evaluation for bilateral hearing loss at any point during the appeal.

Your claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been fully granted with the issuance of a rating decision in August 2017, effective March 20, 2009. The issue is now dismissed as there are no remaining unresolved claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have fibromyalgia, tinnitus, or bilateral hearing loss. For PTSD, the rating assigned is 50 percent prior to February 25, 2017, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter, which means the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus cannot be granted as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was manifested by no worse than level III hearing impairment in the left ear and level I in the right ear. The criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations were not met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, sleep apnea, left knee disorder, and carpal tunnel syndrome were denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was added to the issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim regarding his character of discharge, which is a bar to VA benefits. The Veteran's military service was deemed dishonorable due to violent acts committed against other soldiers.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss. However, it is not clear whether these conditions are related to his military service or if they are secondary to his service-connected left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and analysis.