Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the current severity of his asbestos-related pleural disease and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to address the issue of a TDIU rating and issuing a Supplemental Statement of the Case on the claim for a higher (compensable) rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable prior to October 16, 2010 and a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted from that date forward.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, but the case is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be the result of in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied prior to February 21, 2008.,The Veteran's request for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss from February 21, 2008, was also denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus disability that is related to service, including noise exposure. The Veteran's service treatment records are silent for complaints or diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury is granted. He is also awarded an initial compensable evaluation (10%) for hypertension, and a 20% evaluation for hemorrhoids prior to January 25, 2008. The Veteran's GERD is rated as 10%. These evaluations are effective from the date of service discharge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to service for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The preponderance of evidence is against finding that these conditions had their onset or were otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations, and therefore cannot establish service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's chronic otitis externa, manifested as recurrent ear infections, is causally related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss and a sleep disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service. The decision is mixed as it grants both issues but does not specify which aspects of each issue were granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus in September 2005, finding no evidence of a link to service. The Veteran's new claims were again denied as not containing new and material evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective July 11, 2007, based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that it was factually ascertainable as of this date that he could not obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment due to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ear condition, including hearing loss, as new and material evidence was not received to reopen his prior claim.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss disability as defined by VA, and thus denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. For hypertension and coronary artery disease, the Board determined there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after separation from service, and therefore denied service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD and obtaining treatment records from the Jackson VA Medical Center. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) has also been raised.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and determined that new evidence received since the last denial supports this reopening. The Veteran's exposure to loud sounds in service is acknowledged, but his current hearing loss was not chronic during service and is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep apnea have been denied due to lack of evidence supporting a direct relationship with his military service. The claim for hypertension was previously denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted.

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

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and depression.