Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been rated, but the appeals for higher ratings are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was rated at 30 percent from August 13, 2004 to May 9, 2007 and elevated to 50 percent effective May 10, 2007. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable initial disability rating, as his audiometric results do not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding his periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, bilateral knee condition and left shoulder dislocation. The decision also noted that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records and the Veteran's complete personnel file are needed to properly adjudicate his service connection claims for bilateral flat feet, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a cervical spine injury, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral hands, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as their relationship to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing service records and a need for further medical examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for esotropia in the left eye. However, the issue of whether this condition is related to service remains unresolved.,Regarding bilateral hearing loss, the appeal was not decided on the merits as it was remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee was granted, and he is now rated at 10 percent. His claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes, and thus the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and private medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and to reopen his claim for recurrent dislocations of the left shoulder. The decision also noted that he had already been granted service connection for the left shoulder sprain in 1948.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, hearing loss, and PTSD. The decision found no current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and they are not etiologically related to his military service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric findings consistently showed Level I hearing acuity in both ears throughout the appeal period, which corresponds to a noncompensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 6100.