Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as it did not manifest in service or within one year of discharge. The claim for residuals of a concussion with headaches and memory loss was denied due to findings that the injury resolved prior to discharge, and no residuals were shown.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for migraine headaches has been granted, with the rating now at 30 percent. The other claims remain pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have bilateral pes planus or bilateral hearing loss that is related to his military service. The evidence shows no in-service complaints, treatment, or diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to clarify the Veteran's dates of service and to obtain any necessary medical records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and an examination to determine his employability.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus can be decided. The Veteran's in-service noise exposure history will need to be verified, and an examination will be conducted to determine if his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence did not show an exceptional or unusual pattern of impairment warranting an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are directly related to his military service, specifically due to acoustic trauma from noise exposure during his time as an aircraft mechanic. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, and no compensable rating is warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, epididymitis, and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent since November 30, 2007, for residuals of prostate cancer. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened due to new evidence, but the claim for service connection for epididymitis remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background from March 30, 2004 to February 28, 2011. From March 1, 2011, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss manifested Level XI hearing in both ears.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, lumbosacral spine disability, and chondromalacia of the right patella are all service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a comprehensive VA orthopedic and neurological examination, as well as a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and chronic back disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria, and the Board finds that his reported noise exposure during service did not result in a compensable level of hearing loss.