Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since June 2005. The most recent VA examination in March 2008 showed unchanged hearing levels from the previous year, with predominantly moderate to severe high frequency sensorineural hearing loss in both ears.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no schedular basis upon which to award more than a single, 10 percent rating. The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was also denied due to the maximum schedular rating being assigned.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, the claim remains denied as there is no competent evidence linking his current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is presumed to have been incurred during service, and his claim for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

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

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. The Board determined that his current hearing loss is at least as likely as not due to noise exposure during his active duty in the Virginia Air National Guard.

The Veteran claims service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, alleging exposure to noise during active duty. The Board finds the need for a VA examination to determine current diagnoses and etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further examination. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss due to noise exposure in service and assigned a 30 percent initial rating for the service-connected left foot condition.

The Board denied the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not manifest during or as a result of his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The Veteran's account of in-service acoustic trauma and post-service symptoms is considered credible, and the Board finds it at least as likely as not that his current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were incurred during military service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied as his combined evaluation does not meet the threshold requirements and he is not precluded from securing and following some form of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 20 percent effective May 6, 2005.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.