Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a diagnosis within one year of separation from active service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending as it was not addressed by the RO.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities. The combined rating was found insufficient to meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss has been reopened due to new evidence showing a direct relationship between his military service and current hearing loss.,Headaches are considered a symptom of maxillary sinusitis, so the Veteran cannot be granted separate service connection for headaches.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding the use of the Maryland CNC test in a private audiometry report.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, thus meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA audiology examination and further development of the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of tinnitus and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support earlier effective dates based on the statutory and regulatory requirements.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case has been REMANDED due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability rating is denied for an increase in excess of 20 percent prior to May 4, 2015 and from March 19, 2016. A 50% rating was granted from May 4, 2015 to March 18, 2016.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disorder, and left shoulder disorder are service-connected. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the current examination report. The Veteran's noise exposure during service is considered, but a new VA medical opinion is needed to determine if his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to this exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but denied service connection for a left rib fracture.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus in November 2013. The Veteran did not appeal this decision, making it final. New evidence submitted since then does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, colitis, tinnitus, and vertigo with dizziness, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating based on this finding.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss prior to April 25, 2015. From that date forward, the criteria have not been met for a higher rating.