Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability due to service, and thus denies his claim for service connection. For the entire period of appeal, there is no evidence showing a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, is denied as it does not exceed the required 50% evaluation.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and reviewing outstanding records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims for increased disability ratings for PTSD and hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for hepatitis C, a bilateral ear condition other than hearing loss in the right ear, and entitlement to TDIU have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss have been increased to 10 percent from November 24, 2008, to September 15, 2010, 20 percent from September 16, 2010, to August 19, 2011, and 30 percent since August 20, 2011. The appeal is REMANDED for additional development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable due to the severity of his hearing impairment not warranting a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied. The claims for an increased initial rating for PTSD, entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability, and entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's left ankle disorder is related to his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea. The VA will conduct a new examination and provide medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether his current conditions are related to service. The AOJ will also obtain any outstanding VA medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as non-compensable, and the appeal for a higher rating is denied. The issues of service connection for PTSD, sleep apnea (secondary to PTSD), and eczema are pending.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to June 25, 2014, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is being remanded due to the need for clarification on audiometric test results.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The extension of temporary total ratings based on post-surgical convalescence after surgery for the service-connected right toe disability were also denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss disability has been denied as he does not have a current hearing loss disability. The left ear hearing loss and heart disorder claims are pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus first manifested during active military service and granted service connection for this condition. However, it was determined that his bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have a direct relationship to his service, as there was no evidence of noise exposure during service and both conditions were diagnosed many years after separation. As such, the claims for service connection were denied.