Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not have onset in service or within one year of service and was not caused by his active military service. The VA examiner noted normal hearing at separation from service, and there is no evidence of post-service treatment for sensorineural hearing loss until approximately five years after discharge. For the shoulder condition, there is no competent medical evidence of a current left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not caused by noise exposure during his active duty. The claim for PTSD and major depressive disorder was denied due to lack of verified stressor.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be at least as severe as a 10 percent evaluation, which has been granted since August 1, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, finding no current disability. The claim for substance abuse disability was also denied.

The Veteran's combined rating of 70 percent due to service-connected disabilities does not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his disorders do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability was denied, and his initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted but assigned a non-compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated at Level IV in both ears, resulting in a 10% evaluation. The claim for an increased rating above this level is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied previously. The Board granted the Veteran special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance/housebound benefits, considering his condition as bedridden due to post traumatic arthritis of the left foot.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is also denied as the current schedular evaluation is adequate.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to missing service records and unavailability of private treatment records. The case will be reviewed after the necessary steps are taken.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing, special home adaptation assistance, or financial assistance in purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and determined that new evidence supports this reopening. The Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions, including back, knee, foot, elbow, hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type 2, heart disease, or psychiatric disorders, that were incurred in or aggravated by his service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing disability has been evaluated at a 10 percent rating since its initial grant. The Board finds that the current evidence does not support an increase in this evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus due to presumed exposure in Vietnam. However, bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be related to service or presumptively linked to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that can be linked to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise, and therefore determined that it is as likely as not that the Veteran's current tinnitus disability is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus due to service, and thus denied both claims.