Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal on the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and a right inguinal area scar.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the appeal for tinnitus was withdrawn by the Veteran before a decision could be made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability warranted a 40 percent rating as of April 7, 2010, and the effective date is set to that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to noise exposure during his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of a hearing loss disability under VA criteria. The claims for increased ratings for left foot disorder and abdominal scar are not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not causally related to his active service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for service connection for hepatitis C, were denied. The Veteran was also not granted TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was received on July 21, 2010. The Board found that the effective date cannot be earlier than this date as there is no evidence of a prior claim or entitlement to benefits.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and deviated nasal septum are service connected. However, the right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a ratable disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss, which are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and records in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for issuance of a supplemental statement of the case addressing the appellant's status as a substitute claimant, rather than on an accrued benefits basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, left index finger amputation, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, compound fracture of right ulna and radius, and hammer toes, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence supports a grant of TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. The Veteran does not have a current disability of hearing loss for VA purposes during the appeal period.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for clarification on whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to military service and if it shares etiology with his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, warranting service connection for both conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is not related to his active duty service and may not be presumed as an organic disease of the nervous system. The evidence does not show left ear hearing loss for VA purposes.