Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the disability did not warrant a schedular rating in excess of 10 percent prior to February 12, 2013 and 40 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge sitting at the RO. The issues include increased ratings for spondylolisthesis L5-S1 with left sciatica and hypertension, service connection for acid reflux, depression, and a skin rash, and an earlier effective date for total disability rating based on individual unemployability and Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C.A. Chapter 35.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current knee conditions are not related to his military service. The Board also found no evidence of a compensable degree of hearing loss in the right ear within one year after separation from service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current left and right knee disabilities or right ear hearing loss to his active duty service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is etiologically related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied, as the evidence did not show that his disability warranted a higher rating than 40 percent.,The effective date of the grant of a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was set at September 25, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and bilateral hearing loss are both incurred in active service.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder with anxiety, is granted. However, his claims for a compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and left knee instability are denied.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to service, and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of an increased rating for residuals of multiple warts on the fingers and cuticles of both hands was also addressed but remains pending.

The Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and the Board finds that service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, peptic ulcer disease, radiculopathy of the left upper and lower extremities, degenerative arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability. The criteria for service connection have been met, and the claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.,Specifically, the evidence did not show a current disability during service, and there is no credible evidence attributing these conditions to service.

The Veteran's hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to service, and the Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran is found to have a current disability of right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, which are related to his in-service noise exposure. As such, the claims are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty and reserve service. As a result, the appeal for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to attend a scheduled hearing. His claims for service connection and increased evaluation are still pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be incurred in service, as it is related to his reported noise exposure during service. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.