Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, right toe condition, and bilateral hearing loss are related to his military service. The Board has also found that there is no evidence of a current right toe disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video conference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues are service connection for hearing loss and service connection for Ischemic Heart Disease, claimed as associated with herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, and migraines have been withdrawn. The appeal for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability is being remanded.

The Veteran's other specified and stressor-related disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and benign prostatic hyperplasia with lower urinary tract symptoms are related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the etiology of his claimed disabilities, specifically bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and COPD with chronic bronchitis.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not occur in service and denied his claim. The left ear hearing loss was determined to be pre-existing, but no aggravation during service was shown.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have a psychiatric disability, to include depression. Therefore, service connection for a psychiatric disability is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a continuity of symptoms dating back to service or a presumptive period.

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

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not incurred in service, while his right ear hearing loss was not aggravated by service and thus cannot be granted on a direct basis.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent since February 1, 2010.,The Veteran is also granted TDIU effective February 1, 2010.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss effective February 25, 2009. The Veteran's claim for service connection of his left knee disability is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 40 percent since March 18, 2015. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to January 13, 2004 was denied as his service-connected hearing loss alone did not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been rated at the highest possible schedular evaluations, but he is unemployable due to these service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim has been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and vertigo with tinnitus have not met the schedular criteria for a higher rating, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sick sinus syndrome and for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the March 10, 2010 rating decision that granted TDIU based on multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss is related to her military service.