Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been upheld as his most severe hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for dizziness and remanded the claim of entitlement to a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran was accorded a VA medical examination in October 2012, but further development is still required regarding the hearing loss claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active duty service. However, there is no evidence linking the Veteran's tinnitus to his period of service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for an additional medical examination if necessary. The claim will be readjudicated based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand has been reopened and granted. The Board finds that there is sufficient evidence to establish a current disability, as indicated by medical records showing carpal tunnel syndrome. The Board also found that the Veteran's current condition is related to his period of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and denied his claim. The Board also found insufficient evidence to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service, but noted that it must be remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The reopened issue will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for a bilateral hearing loss disability must be remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for clarification of the October 2012 private audiometric report to determine if speech recognition scores were obtained using the Maryland CNC Test and for numerical designations of auditory thresholds at tested frequencies.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss disability has been denied as the evidence does not show that his service-connected hearing loss disability is more than noncompensably disabling.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and thus denied the claim as there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound due to his service-connected conditions. Therefore, the claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or at the housebound rate is denied.

The audiometric evaluations show that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at worst Level III in both ears, which corresponds to a noncompensable rating under VA regulations. The Board finds no evidence of exceptional or unusual factors that would render application of the regular schedular standards impractical.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA audiological examination to assess the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of a compression fracture of the cervical spine was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim. The case is remanded for further development on the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's substantive appeal was timely filed, and thus his appeals for increased ratings and service connection are granted.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus, including consideration of continuity of symptomatology since the mid-to-late 1970s.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received, allowing the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss to be reopened. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active duty service, including his periods in the Naval Reserves.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is service-connected, but his right ear hearing loss disability cannot be linked to service.