Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative joint disease. The claim to reopen the bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, including exposure to noise during his time as a jet engine mechanic. The claims for service connection are therefore granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the June 2008 VA examination report, which did not consider all pertinent evidence and failed to address the Veteran's contentions of noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been consistently rated at the noncompensable level throughout the appeal period, as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been clinically shown to be manifested by no worse than Level III hearing in the right ear and Level II in the left ear. The criteria for a compensable evaluation have not been met.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and hypertension was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the pendency of this claim. The Board also found that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran has currently diagnosed hypertension.

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

The Veteran's original claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were received more than one year after his separation from active service, so the effective date cannot be earlier than September 2, 2008.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no competent medical evidence of current disabilities related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and an initial compensable rating for residual of burn, ankylosis of the right little finger were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a restoration of a 40 percent evaluation or an increased rating beyond the current 30 percent. The evidence shows improvement in his hearing, but it is insufficient to meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to have been incurred during active duty service, and the benefit sought on appeal is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was rated at 30% prior to October 15, 2010, and increased to 40% on and after that date. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for chronic dermatitis prior to March 1, 2005 was granted with a 30% disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine his eligibility for VA benefits due to a conditional discharge, which may result in a complete bar to VA benefits. The issues of service connection and higher ratings will be addressed after this determination.

The Board has decided that another opinion is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, which are currently demonstrated conditions. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was denied as his only service-connected condition (left ear hearing loss) does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including asthma and arthritis of the right knee, have resulted in his need for regular aid and attendance due to his inability to dress, undress, bathe, or toilet himself.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling of VA examinations to determine the nature and severity of his hearing impairment and right knee disorder.