Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination of his PTSD and efforts to obtain private treatment records. The issue of TDIU will be readjudicated after the development.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee chondromalacia, lumbosacral spine disability, cervical spine disability, and left ear hearing loss are currently rated at the lowest possible initial rating of 10 percent. The Board finds that these conditions do not warrant a higher rating based on their current manifestations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates have been granted. Service connection has been established for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and left ear tinnitus with the effective date set at January 28, 2010.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, considering his education, special training, and employment history. As such, a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he does not have sufficient hearing loss in his ears to be considered a disability by VA standards.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration, including a referral to VA's Director of Compensation and Pension Services or the Undersecretary for Benefits regarding entitlement to an extraschedular rating for bilateral hearing loss.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board is remanding the DIC issue for issuance of an SOC, as there was no effective substantive appeal of the DIC denial before the Board.,The character of service issue remains in its current status.

The Veteran's current tinnitus is etiologically related to service, and the Board finds that he currently has bilateral hearing loss. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete information and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they do not result in a combined rating of at least 70%.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 10 percent rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss from December 1, 2009 due to procedural errors in reducing his rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes or tinnitus. The claims of service connection for astigmatism and myopia, low back strain, cervical and pelvic non-allopathic lesions, myalgia and myositis, hypertension, and external hemorrhoids are denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing a current disability.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion regarding whether his pre-existing hearing loss worsened during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and hyperlipidemia, was dismissed. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to active duty.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that the pre-existing hearing defect did not worsen during service, and there is no presumption of aggravation.

The Veteran's current respiratory disorder is as likely as not etiologically related to in-service asbestos exposure, and the Board grants service connection for a respiratory disorder. The issue of bilateral hearing loss will be remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service. However, the Veteran does not meet the threshold eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to a lack of active duty during a wartime period.