Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hearing loss and his military service. The appeal is now pending for further development.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including verification of service and issuance of a statement of the case on the issues of service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD renders him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and he is granted a TDIU. The earlier effective date for the increased rating of 20% for bilateral hearing loss is set at July 31, 2007.

The Veteran's hearing loss and scar from liver transplant are not rated higher than the current noncompensable ratings, with no compensable rating for hearing loss prior to March 17, 2015, and a 10 percent rating since then. The Veteran's scar is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current tinnitus was incurred during service. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable since July 2009. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as the audiometric results do not show a pattern consistent with noise exposure and the Veteran reported that his hearing problems began approximately 20 years after service discharge.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not indicate a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left ear hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and denied his claim of service connection for this condition. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss of the right ear, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are remanded due to in-service stressor verification.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his active service, and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The claim for tinnitus remains pending as an addendum opinion is required.

Service connection for a low back condition has been granted, and the Veteran is entitled to a higher initial rating for tinnitus.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim was denied due to lack of hearing loss for VA purposes. He is seeking an initial compensable rating for his left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg disorder, including degenerative arthritis of the right hip, has been reopened and is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of his current hearing loss and incomplete medical records. The case will be further reviewed after obtaining additional information.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current bilateral hearing loss disability, as well as whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule examinations for her claimed disabilities. The AOJ will also review the claims based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, TBI residuals, migraines, vertigo, cervical disorder, and shoulder disorders have been granted. However, the claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD remains denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his auditory acuity levels do not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6100.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service acoustic trauma. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of right ear hearing loss, but has a current disability of left ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to address the etiology of his current conditions, as well as consideration of lay statements regarding the onset of his symptoms.