Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal hearing tests during and at separation from service. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a noncompensable rating prior to November 16, 2009, and a 10 percent rating from that date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and clarifying private audiogram results. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being evaluated to determine if it is related to his service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that meets the VA criteria for hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for hearing loss and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for headaches have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his most severe hearing impairment corresponds to Level IV on the VA auditory acuity table. For headaches, while the Veteran reported frequent episodes, they were not considered very frequent or completely prostrating, thus preventing him from receiving a higher 50% rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for fracture of the right ring finger, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral hip disability is denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable. The VA determined that the Veteran's current level of hearing impairment does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and bilateral hearing loss are found to be of such severity that they render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, including in-service acoustic trauma. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus is denied as the schedular criteria are adequate to rate his level of impairment. The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a lack of complete audiometric testing results.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and post-operative prostate cancer were granted, but with no compensable ratings assigned.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was found to have initially manifested during his period of service, and the Board finds that it is related to service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD, will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, but his unemployability is due to his service-connected conditions. The case is REMANDED for further consideration on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for hearing loss in the right ear was denied, and his claims for service connection for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, conversion disorder, somatization disorder, and personality disorder), and PTSD were also denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA compensation criteria, and the Veteran has not presented credible lay assertions establishing continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was found to have initially manifested during service and is therefore considered incurred in service. The Board finds that the Veteran has current sleep apnea, which may be related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a 30 percent rating, effective from October 2009. The other issues have not been addressed due to lack of appeal or are not currently in appellate status.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, as new and material evidence has been received. However, the claim remains denied as there is no causal relationship between the current tinnitus and active duty service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service. The Board found that sensorineural hearing loss may not be presumed to have resulted from such service.