Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been denied. The Veteran was not granted a temporary total rating based on hospitalization from May 8, 2015 to June 15, 2015 due to his nonservice-connected alcohol and cocaine dependence. His claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD has also been denied.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, while the underlying claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded to the AOJ for additional development.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss, effective from the entire initial rating period on appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected and at least as likely as not related to in-service acoustic trauma. For the period prior to February 9, 2012, his right wrist disability warrants a 10% rating based on limitation of motion and arthritis. Since February 9, 2012, no higher ratings are warranted. The Veteran's right fifth finger disability also warrants a 10% rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on his audiometric test results.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but granted his claim for left ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the lack of current disability for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 10 percent, which does not meet the threshold requirement for awarding increased compensation based on his spouse's need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability has been denied as his current level of hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, or bilateral shoulder disorder and therefore service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his noise exposure in service and grants this claim. The claim for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus, which is a requirement for diagnosing PTSD.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure during his military service. The hearing loss and lung cancer claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied in a January 2004 rating decision. The RO subsequently granted a 10 percent rating effective from April 2010. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against finding that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability more nearly approximates the level of severity contemplated by a higher rating at any point during the appeal period. Regarding his claim to reopen service connection for residuals of right index finger injury, new and material evidence has been received since the January 2004 rating decision.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, with the opinion that both conditions are related to military noise exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current condition is related to noise exposure during military service. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.

The Veteran's claimed conditions of bilateral pes planus, knee disability (chondromalacia patella), back disability, and hearing loss were not incurred or aggravated during his active military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was manifested by level I or II hearing in the right ear and level II or III hearing in the left ear, resulting in a non-compensable evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have residuals of ruptured eardrums other than hearing loss, and denied service connection for these conditions. The claim for increased rating for LLE radiculopathy was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral interstitial fibrosis and PTSD, did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 6, 2012.