Hearing loss Board decisions

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not of such severity as to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial and current ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability are upheld, with no changes in effective dates.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ear disability besides hearing loss, and his current hearing loss is not causally related to his active service or any incident therein. The same applies to his left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD and links it to an in-service stressor. The other claims (for hearing loss and tinnitus) are denied.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for Eustachian tube dysfunction, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are already service-connected with respective ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA audiological examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right shoulder disorder, bilateral hearing loss, refractive error of the eye, allergies, left arm numbness and loss of function, and a low back disorder. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are incurred in active service, with continuity of symptomatology since separation.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no evidence showing a connection between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not due to in-service acoustic trauma, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from various sources and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's claims are currently pending.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as the need for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran has bilateral hearing loss that is as likely as not related to his active duty service. The Board finds the Veteran's and his sister's reports sufficient to establish a positive nexus between his in-service acoustic trauma and his current bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for bilateral hearing loss or a back disorder, but finds that he currently has tinnitus and it is related to his military noise exposure. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung disability and bilateral hearing loss are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a left upper extremity injury including radiculopathy (claimed as left shoulder and arm injury), and cervical spine disability to allow for further development.

The VA has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.