Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee strain, shoulder strain, shin splints and a skin rash (tinea). The Veteran's hearing loss disability is remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the initial compensable disability rating for COPD with chronic bronchitis. The right ear hearing loss is currently rated as Level IV, which corresponds to a noncompensable rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. The claims are granted as both conditions are related to service exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is service-connected, as it was first diagnosed during active duty and not attributable to an intercurrent cause. However, there is no evidence of current right ear hearing loss for VA purposes.

The evidence shows no worse than Level II hearing acuity in the Veteran's left ear and no worse than Level I hearing acuity in his right ear, warranting a noncompensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not caused by acoustic trauma sustained during his military service, including periods of INACDUTRA or ACDUTRA.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current hearing loss disability and denied his claim for service connection. For vertigo, there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service. The evidence does not establish a chronicity of hearing loss in service or a continuity of hearing loss after service, nor is there any evidence of a nexus between current hearing loss and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a videoconference hearing due to his failure to appear at the previously scheduled hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and a bilateral hip disability are still pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected and has been denied.,Prior to November 22, 2013, the Veteran's back strain with intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbosacral spine was rated as 10 percent disabling and remains denied.,Effective from November 22, 2013, the Veteran's back strain with intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbosacral spine has been granted a 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's follicular eczema with acne is not service-connected and has been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include as secondary to service connected disability. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20 percent prior to January 10, 2011. The Board found that the evidence supported a higher rating for his hearing loss from January 10, 2011 to March 27, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left leg disability, claimed as bone weakness and inability to heal. The evidence did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not begin during service and was not caused by in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since the effective date of service connection, and further evaluation does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claimed conditions, including headaches, hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, and umbilical hernia, are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and VA treatment records. He will also be scheduled for examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations and medical opinions in connection with his claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records, as well as further consideration of the Veteran's claims.