Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA audiological examinations, as he has indicated that his hearing loss has worsened since his last examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination as his last one was conducted over four years ago and he claims an increase in severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation, and therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's entire appeal period hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is as likely as not related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 21, 2014 for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board finds that there is no legal basis by which an earlier effective date can be assigned.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in his disability rating beyond 10 percent prior to July 12, 2013, and 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his PTSD, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether he can perform the physical and mental requirements of employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss prior to December 11, 2010 was denied. Beginning on and after December 11, 2010, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board, as his service-connected hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and right shoulder disability. Service connection was denied for ingrown toenails.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's low back disability as it is considered to be directly related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence now shows that the Veteran experienced in-service noise exposure, which is presumed to have caused his current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is the result of acoustic trauma in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD has been denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to November 27, 2013, and 10 percent since that date. His PTSD is rated as 70 percent disabling effective February 26, 2007.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to December 1, 2015 for a 40% evaluation and for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss as of June 5, 2013. The effective date assigned was December 1, 2015.