Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted from January 26, 2001. The effective date of the grant of service connection for left foot pes planus is set at October 5, 2009. A TDIU claim has been raised.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current disability of bilateral hearing loss and that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since November 24, 2009 and increased to 70 percent effective October 15, 2012. The hearing loss disability claim was not established.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service, specifically noise exposure during both active duty and reserve service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an opinion regarding the etiology of his bladder cancer and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for reopening his previously denied claim of left ear hearing loss and for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new evidence supports these claims.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is directly related to service exposure, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as further development is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as it only results in Level II and Level I hearing acuity in each ear.

The case is being remanded for further audiometric testing and readjudication due to incomplete records. The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss since April 17, 2013 remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective August 6, 2014. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied secondary service connection for a vertigo disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA regulations, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's hearing loss is found to have begun during active duty service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and personnel information, as well as for a new VA audiological examination. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions are on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, as evidenced by in-service noise exposure during combat. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and headache disorder. The Veteran did not have a current disability for VA purposes, and there was no clear and unmistakable evidence that his headaches preexisted service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted from July 1, 2007 to July 6, 2009. From July 7, 2009 onwards, the Veteran no longer met the criteria for a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss disabilities are likely related to his military service, with aggravation due to pre-existing conditions. The headache disability is also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is being remanded due to an inextricably intertwined issue of service connection for blindness. The case will be returned to the Board after resolving this issue.