Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective date and service connection, finding that he did not have a current hearing loss disability of either ear. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was also denied as there is no evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by his active duty.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the September 2004 rating decisions denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is the result of military service, with noise exposure during his active duty. The evidence shows a diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss in service and continuity of symptomatology since service to the present.

The case is being remanded for the VA to secure a March 2007 audiological assessment and review the claim on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing impairment has not been shown to be worse than Level V in the right ear and Level III in the left ear prior to December 2014, and no worse than Level IV in either ear after December 2014. Therefore, the criteria for an initial compensable rating have not been met.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be etiologically related to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hearing impairment is no worse than Level V in the right ear and Level I in the left ear, resulting in a non-compensable rating. The claim for an extra-schedular rating for bilateral hearing loss disability is referred to the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 20 percent since June 18, 2012. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating during this period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and clarification of the medical records, as well as for new opinions regarding his hearing loss and foot frostbite conditions.

The Veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the VA criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of various conditions, including PTSD. The initial rating for PTSD prior to April 30, 2009, and on and after December 1, 2009, was also denied.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability during service and determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was granted a 10% evaluation effective June 22, 2016. Prior to this date, the disability had been rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and he is currently receiving a 10 percent disability rating. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in his disability rating beyond 10 percent from April 1, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable or higher rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's hearing impairment is no worse than Level IV in the right ear and Level VII in the left ear, resulting in a 20 percent rating. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evidentiary development, including obtaining records related to any claims for retirement/disability benefits from Philadelphia Fire Disability. The case will then be returned to the Board for readjudication.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, CAD and hypertension were all found to be related to his service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of whether the appellant filed a timely notice of disagreement with regard to the effective date assigned for SMC remains pending and will be remanded.