Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is due to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining recent VA treatment records and providing a new VA audiological examination.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss, tinnitus, or an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, Adjustment Disorder, and Depressive Disorder) that is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues of service connection for shoulder problems, back condition, and bilateral hearing loss are pending.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that bilateral hearing loss, mild bilateral greater trochanteric bursitis (claimed as joint pain), headaches, and rhinitis are related to service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions must be denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, but denied her claims for a perforated right eardrum and sinusitis as there was no persuasive medical evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current right ear hearing loss disability as defined by VA, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service injury or noise exposure. The Veteran's current symptoms have been attributed to other causes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The left knee disability, right knee arthritis, and lumbosacral strain with spondylosis at L5-S1 are not rated higher than the current 20 percent, 10 percent, and 20 percent respectively.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the initial increased evaluation for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss disability has been found to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, left knee shell fragment wound residuals, tinnitus, degenerative changes of the left knee, and varicosities of the left leg, render him unemployable. The Board has determined that his service-connected disabilities alone preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation criteria. The evidence shows no more than slight to moderate hearing impairment in the left ear, which is rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 13, 2004 was denied. From January 13, 2004 to November 25, 2010, the Veteran received a 10% rating and from November 26, 2010 onwards, he received a 20% rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not meet the criteria for service connection as they are not related to his military service.

The Veteran currently has bilateral hearing loss, but the evidence does not support a finding that this condition is related to service. The Board therefore denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by no more than auditory acuity level II in the right ear and level II in the left ear, warranting a 0 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 6100.

The Veteran's ear disability, including hearing loss, tinnitus, and otalgia, was not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found no credible evidence linking the current hearing loss to service, and concluded that it is more likely due to age-related factors (presbycusis). For PTSD, the Veteran's disability picture does not meet the criteria for a 70% rating.

The March 1996 rating decision denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence of in-service incurrence and no current disability meeting the regulatory requirements. The claim is now being reopened based on new evidence.