Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss is service-connected as it meets the criteria for direct service connection due to a continuity of symptoms since discharge from service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable (0 percent disabling) since March 5, 2003. The Board finds that the evidence does not warrant an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture with marked interference with employment, and thus a compensable rating on an extraschedular basis is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of a current disability for service connection, and the Veteran is required to provide additional medical records or undergo an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss disability did not have its onset during active service, was not caused by an event, injury, or disease in active service, and did not manifest within one year of separation from active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in April 2008. The Board finds that an effective date prior to June 18, 2014 is not warranted as the Veteran did not file a formal or informal claim until this date.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating higher than 30 percent for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of heart disorder, bilateral knee disorder, respiratory disorder (claimed as asthma with obstructive lung disease), visual impairment, or bilateral hearing loss. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for consideration of new evidence submitted by him, and for readjudication of his claim regarding an effective date earlier than July 10, 2013, for the grant of service connection for hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was reopened and granted. His bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, his PTSD with MDD is rated at 70% prior to June 15, 2010, and he is entitled to a TDIU rating prior to that date.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted in October 1973, and he has been assigned a noncompensable rating since then. The Board is denying the Veteran's request for a compensable initial rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for nephrolithiasis, finding that his conditions warranted only noncompensable ratings throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus may be related to his service-connected chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, but an addendum opinion is needed to determine the extent of any secondary relationship.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the April 2010 rating decision is not new and material, and thus does not warrant reopening the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing loss is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or as a result of his military service.,The Veteran's current hepatitis C (HCV) was incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess his service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased evaluations were denied as there is no evidence of record prior to June 15, 2012 that would support an earlier effective date.,There was no increase in the severity of the Veteran's strain of the back between June 15, 2011, and June 15, 2012, warranting a higher evaluation under any applicable Diagnostic Code.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a thyroid disorder or disease, and thus the claim for service connection for a thyroid disorder or disease is denied. The claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and post-operative residuals of gallbladder disease are remanded for further development.