Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was rated at 40 percent from February 17, 2010, through June 24, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability did not have its onset during service and is not related to any in-service disease or injury. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for this condition.,There is no competent medical evidence showing that the Veteran currently suffers from right ear hearing loss, as his current hearing loss was first noted many years after service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, may not be presumed to have been incurred in service, and are not shown to be due to, the result of, or aggravated by service-connected Bell's palsy.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 19, 2010, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent thereafter was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for any higher ratings under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease is now rated at 20 percent effective July 25, 2006. The other issues on appeal are dismissed.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is likely related to service, and the Board finds that it began during his period of active duty.

The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints, treatment, or diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus. The Board finds that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for these conditions as they are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran experienced symptoms during service and continuous since separation. The Board also found a positive nexus between the current conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no current disabilities and insufficient evidence to establish a link between in-service events and his current health issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran currently suffers from bilateral hearing loss as a result of his time in active military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as there is no showing of exceptional or unusual disability that would warrant an extra-schedular evaluation.

The Board found no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus and concluded that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bilateral hearing loss as no new and material evidence was received, and thus the claim remains denied.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has determined that additional development of the evidence is required, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, verifying in-service stressor allegations, and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits under Chapter 35, and compensation benefits pursuant to the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 14, 2006 for the grant of service connection for lumbar spine hypertrophic osteoarthritis was denied. The effective date is set at November 18, 2005.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not attributable to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and tinnitus, rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected conditions.