Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's asthma and left ear hearing loss are being reviewed on their merits, with a focus on the relationship to service. The right ear hearing loss claim is also being considered, including for secondary service connection. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability is under consideration.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an eye disorder has been withdrawn. The Board finds no evidence of a current hearing loss disability under VA guidelines, thus denying the claim for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is granted for tinnitus as it was incurred during active duty and continues to persist.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for another Travel Board hearing, and the claim is not about service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) have been denied. The evidence received since previous decisions does not provide a basis to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has determined that the April 2009 rating decision, which denied reopening a claim for service connection, was issued in error due to the receipt of additional service department records. The case is now remanded for reconsideration.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus due to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to service, as there was no increase in hearing loss during service and symptoms of both conditions did not manifest continuously after service. The VA examiner concluded that current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss resulted in a puretone average of 35 decibels in the right ear and 49 decibels in the left ear, which corresponds to Level I hearing impairment. The Board found that this did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling examinations, and re-adjudicating the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was found to not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation prior to August 25, 2012 and did not warrant an increased rating after that date.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for it, effective from August 9, 2007.

The Board found no evidence of current bilateral hearing loss, right eye disorder, or acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes during service. The claim for service connection for these conditions is therefore denied.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA medical examinations and consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b). The case is now being submitted to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for right ear hearing loss. The RO denied this claim as the Veteran's right ear hearing acuity did not meet the threshold for a hearing loss disability under VA criteria. The case is now remanded to determine if the Veteran meets the minimum thresholds required for a hearing loss disability.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed before the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be fully adjudicated. The Veteran's STRs from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, are requested to support his claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral eye disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.