Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, as well as TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, is denied. The RO will conduct further development of the PTSD claim.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, including noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and a new and material evidence claim for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the right lung was also granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for hearing loss is August 28, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently shown bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, including in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current disability level does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus due to acoustic trauma in service. The initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right breast cancer and bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The claim for right breast cancer is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to in-service radiation exposure, while the claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus the Veteran's claims are denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD are all granted as service-connected. The Veteran was exposed to noise in Vietnam but no specific exposure basis is provided. No presumption of service connection due to the PACT Act or Agent Orange/Camp Lejeune is applicable. There is no rating assigned at this time.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining employment and financial records, conducting a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities, and providing proper VCAA notice regarding effective dates.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there is no current disability found.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current back disability, bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD, or sleep problems to service. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions are not related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected sensorineural hearing loss renders him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the claim for an earlier effective date for his tinnitus rating remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records review.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for purposes of establishing service connection, and thus denied his claim.