Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus must be remanded due to a failure to provide proper VCAA notice.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining missing audiometric test results and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his current bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the extent of his disability is reasonably contemplated by the VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, visual disorder, and bilateral hearing loss are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of tinnitus and therefore, service connection for this condition cannot be established. The issue regarding an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is also addressed.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since January 27, 2016. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was denied by the Board. The evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset during service or within one year of service separation, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this disability. The Veteran does not have any other service-connected conditions that affect his ability to work or socialize.

The Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during active military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to June 16, 2014 is being remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding consistency of previously administered audiological examinations with the June 2014 examination results.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the Court's decision, and he will be provided a new VA examination for his psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, costochondritis (chest pain), and hypertension were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remain at 10 percent, as the evidence does not meet criteria for higher evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and assigned an effective date of May 1980. The Veteran's pleurisy of the right lung is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, with no higher rating being warranted under any circumstances. The Veteran's scars are currently rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable under the VA rating schedule, with no evidence of severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a compensable rating.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not manifest during service or for many years thereafter, and is not shown to be a result of active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 60 percent since November 12, 2015. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and grants TDIU on a schedular basis from this date.