Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is manifested by pure tone threshold averages and speech recognition scores that correspond to no more than a level 'I' hearing on the right, resulting in a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, as the evidence did not show sufficient hearing loss to be considered a ratable disability. The claim for an increased rating for status post shrapnel wound with scar and residual left VIII intercostal neuritis is remanded due to the need for issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, bilateral residuals of shin splints, a left shoulder disability, lower respiratory disease (bronchitis and asthma), and gastrointestinal disability (GERD/gastritis).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is due to noise exposure during service and grants service connection for this condition. The right ear hearing loss claim remains pending as it does not involve a direct service connection.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his military service or service-connected PTSD.,There is no evidence of left ear hearing loss during service, and the current condition does not meet VA criteria for a disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss is related to his military service. For the entire initial rating period on appeal, audiometric testing has revealed at worst an average puretone threshold of 31 decibels in the right ear.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, render him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or hypertension due to service, and these conditions are not secondary to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted. The issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 0 percent for service-connected otitis externa and media is also addressed, but the decision summary focuses on the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss was denied prior to May 29, 2012. Since then, he has been granted a 20% rating effective from May 29, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for a scheduled Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after proper notice and scheduling of another hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to technical difficulties with the hearing transcript. The case will be returned for scheduling a new videoconference hearing at the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is related to an injury sustained during inactive duty training, and thus service connection for this condition is granted. The hearing loss claim will be addressed in a separate remand as VA treatment records are needed.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The decision on the merits is pending further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing and addressing new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not meet the criteria for service connection as there was no evidence of an increase in severity during service, and the preexisting conditions were not aggravated by military service. The Veteran's statements regarding the onset of his disabilities were deemed less credible.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.