Hearing loss Board decisions

The claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss has been remanded due to incomplete development. The current evaluation is 40 percent, effective September 4, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss was not aggravated by active service and denied his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss due to new and material evidence submitted. However, the claim remains denied as there is no competent evidence showing a direct relationship between the current left ear hearing loss and active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, headaches, and sinus disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's request for hearings has been addressed, and the case is being remanded due to scheduling issues. Service connection claims are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left ear hearing loss disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen these claims. The decision also denied service connection for a bilateral hand disorder and sinusitis.

The Veteran's request for a Board videoconference hearing has been rescheduled due to his travel plans. The case is being remanded back to the RO for scheduling this hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to noise from aircraft and communication equipment. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for consideration of an extra-schedular evaluation due to his service-connected disabilities, as he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his current conditions were not related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records.

The Board found that the Veteran's left wrist injury in service was acute and transitory, resolving without residuals. The current left wrist disability is not related to his service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of frostbite, an ocular disorder (vision loss), and abscesses on the buttocks. The evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to address his claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been granted service connection. The Veteran is currently receiving the maximum schedular rating for his PTSD prior to July 15, 2009, but not since that date.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not found to warrant a compensable evaluation prior to May 24, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current level of hearing loss did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's currently diagnosed left ear hearing loss is related to his period of active service. As a result, the criteria for service connection for left ear hearing loss have been met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, severe allergic rhinitis, low back strain, chorioretinal scar of both eyes (previously characterized as healed central serous retinopathy of the left eye with xanthelasma), tinnitus, and sensorineural hearing loss, did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation before May 4, 2010.