Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding that he was already receiving the maximum schedular evaluation for tinnitus and that his PTSD claim lacked legal merit.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are related to his active duty service. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions, but the issue of an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his military service. The evidence did not establish a current disability for tinnitus, and the VA examiner opined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was less likely caused by his military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability did not have onset during active service or within one year of separation for active service and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service from February 1967 to September 1968. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claims for service connection. The Board also noted that tinnitus was not attributable to service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as it was incurred during service.,Right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not granted as they were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the relationship between his current hearing loss, tinnitus, and perforated ear drum disabilities and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to inadequate audiometric results from a September 2007 examination. The RO must arrange for the Veteran to undergo a VA audiological evaluation and provide him with notice as required by Dingess/Hartman v. Nicholson.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with no evidence showing a material change in his hearing acuity that would warrant an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the spine, PTSD, and residuals of shrapnel wounds to the left upper thigh, substantially or materially contributed to his death from an automobile accident.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations for balanitis of the penis and bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed. For the period from November 14, 2002 to March 17, 2009, his bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent. For the period beginning on and after March 18, 2009, his bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, considering his educational and occupational background.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is a result of noise exposure during his military service, including while serving in the National Guard. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing service treatment records and a need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a head injury and right ear hearing loss were denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions, nor sufficient in-service evidence to support the claimed incidents.

The Board found no evidence of current bilateral hearing loss related to the Veteran's military service or any incident therein, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss, but granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by active duty service.