Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability. The Veteran's current diagnosis of mild to moderate mixed hearing loss in the right ear meets the criteria for a disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability was not manifest during service or within one year of service and is not otherwise attributable to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and bilateral knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of such during service. The Board also noted that any current conditions are more likely due to post-service activities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a skin disorder were denied. The effective dates for the grant of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint/disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome and lower extremity radiculopathy, TDIU, and DEA benefits are set at May 21, 2001, August 24, 2003, respectively.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has been denied. He was previously rated noncompensable and now receives a 10 percent rating since December 21, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to military service, specifically noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was manifested by Level IV hearing acuity in the right ear and Level III hearing acuity in the left ear as of January 5, 2016. The preponderance of the evidence shows that an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is not warranted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be caused by acoustic trauma during active service and therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and right ear hearing loss are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examinations.

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 claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the failure to schedule a hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to effectively preclude substantially gainful employment for which the Veteran's education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Board has ordered a remand to ensure the Veteran is afforded an appropriate VA examination to address his bilateral hearing loss disability, specifically addressing his July 2009 speech discrimination scores and previous audiograms. The appeal will be returned for further adjudication.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for additional development, including obtaining updated addresses and medical records.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board had no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and partial median neuropathy, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board found that he met the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to his service, as they pre-existed service or are not otherwise linked to military noise exposure. The current conditions are considered to have resulted from post-service occupational and recreational noise exposure.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is currently rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment or other factors indicating that the current schedular criteria are inadequate.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and the case is dismissed as there are no remaining issues for review.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and finds it as likely as not that his tinnitus is causally related to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's initial compensable rating claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.