Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his bilateral hearing loss disability was granted, with a 10% evaluation effective from June 14, 2016. The claim for a compensable evaluation prior to that date remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a higher (compensable) rating for bilateral hearing loss and granted a separate rating of 10 percent for psychiatric manifestations of hearing loss. The case is now remanded to consider an even higher rating for psychiatric manifestations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable (0 percent) since September 8, 1999. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of entitlement to an increased rating greater than 0 percent for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss throughout the appeal period.

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 Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not present an exceptional disability picture that requires an extraschedular evaluation, and thus denied the claim for an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and incomplete development of the record. Specifically, there are issues related to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and increased rating for migraine headaches.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, as due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service. The August 2002 rating decision denying the Veteran's claim for service connection for a gunshot wound of the left wrist is final. No new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a gunshot wound of the left wrist.

The Board has remanded the case for further explanation of the attorney fee award, as the AOJ failed to provide a detailed basis for the $2,590.60 in attorney fees awarded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the severity of his thoracic spine disability and whether his hearing loss was permanently aggravated during service.

The Veteran does not have a left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes that is related to active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, when evaluated using the VA rating criteria, warrants a 20% disability rating effective January 29, 2015. The current non-compensable rating is found to be inadequate given the severity of his symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, and left ear hearing loss. The claim for right ear hearing loss was reopened based on new evidence, but service connection was not granted.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for right ear hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of an increase in disability within the year prior to his September 2008 increased rating claim, and audiometric testing results have never shown more than Level II hearing loss in either ear.

The Board has remanded the case for compliance with a Court order, specifically to obtain treatment records from Dr. Paszkowiak regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated at a noncompensable level prior to March 26, 2009. Since then, the disability is rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service acoustic trauma. Service connection for GERD secondary to PTSD and diabetes mellitus, type II is also granted. The issue of service connection for umbilical hernia remains pending as it is not clear if it is directly related to service-connected conditions or if it is a separate condition.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder and reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, both effective from December 3, 2008.