Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues currently on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board also found that the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is not properly before the Board as there has been no SOC issued.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ear hearing loss, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and a lumbar spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's diagnosed bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is the result of in-service acoustic trauma, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are rated at 10 percent combined, which is less than the minimum threshold of 60% required. The Board finds that his disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 80 percent since August 21, 2010. The most recent VA examination in January 2015 showed a Level VIII right ear and Level XI left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of tuberculosis and bilateral hearing loss, as well as the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss pre-existed service and was not aggravated during service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by puretone threshold averages no higher than 75 decibels in the right ear and 83 decibels in the left ear, and speech discrimination scores using the Maryland CNC word list no lower than 74 percent for both ears. The criteria for a rating greater than 30 percent have not been satisfied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not been manifested by worse than Level III hearing in the left ear and Level I hearing in the right ear; or, Level II hearing bilaterally. The criteria for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have not been met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his bilateral hearing loss disability and right hand scars, as well as his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran was not granted any increased ratings or service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. His bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and adjudication of the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable prior to December 22, 2011 and from December 22, 2011 to November 16, 2012. Since then, his hearing loss has not warranted a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral ear disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depression and PTSD. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing in-service stressors or chronic conditions that could be presumed due to military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. The heart condition, hip disability, and right shoulder disability were also not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is caused by acoustic trauma during his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was initially rated as noncompensable prior to November 18, 2015. Since then, he has been assigned a 10 percent rating effective from that date.