Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded substantially gainful employment from July 1, 2007 to September 16, 2009. The Board granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's VA audiology treatment records and audiometric data. The case will be remanded for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and cholesteatoma do not warrant an initial compensable disability rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are not related to his active service, including noise exposure. The evidence does not show a chronic disability resulting from in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as the evidence is in equipoise, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective December 17, 2009. His hearing loss and tinnitus are separately rated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, psychiatric disorder, hypertension, knee joint pains, myalgia, weight loss, and fatigue have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of a current disability or continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claim for an initial, noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the audiometric testing results did not meet criteria for a higher rating. The claim for service connection for bilateral hip disability was also denied due to lack of evidence linking any current hip disorder to active duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service, with the Board granting service connection for this condition. The hearing loss and skin condition claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is service-connected, while his left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not. The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability prior to December 12, 2014, and increased the rating to 20 percent thereafter. As of June 9, 2015, he is entitled to a maximum 40 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to noise during his aircraft instrument repair duties. As such, the appeal for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a separate compensable rating for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity was denied.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were dismissed as they are not assignable due to lack of timely appeal or submission of new evidence.,The claim for new and material evidence for prostatitis was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the competent and credible evidence weighs against the claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher initial rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability.