Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss disability and service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. As such, the claim remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for the other conditions are pending and will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have left ear hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a temporary total disability rating based on the need for convalescence following surgical treatment of his lumbar spine are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and conducting new VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been remanded due to the failure to schedule a BVA hearing. The case will be handled in an expeditious manner.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral high frequency hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection cannot be granted. The claim for tinnitus is also denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbar spine disorder are not service-connected as they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, high frequency hearing loss, and right ear tinnitus do not render him unemployable due to his disabilities. The VA examinations indicate that the Veteran is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service, specifically his exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection is denied. For his left wrist disability claim, the Board finds that an examination was conducted but further development is needed as the examiner did not address whether the claimed condition is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal of the May 2005 rating decision was found to be timely, and as a result, all underlying claims for service connection are now considered granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of concussive syndrome are not shown to meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and adjustment disorder with depressed mood. The reduction of the rating from 100% to 40% was upheld, but the initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for depression prior to March 30, 2011, and the evaluation in excess of 30 percent after that date were denied.