Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and consideration of his claims.

The appellant withdrew his appeal for the issues of right and left eye disorders, left ear hearing loss, arthritis of all joints, peripheral artery disease (PAD), and a cyst on the left cheek prior to the Board's decision.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss did not increase in severity during his period of active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a grand mal convulsive disorder and epilepsy, as well as his claims for left ear hearing loss and chronic tinnitus. The evidence submitted since the previous denial does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and otitis media have been denied as there is no evidence of active middle ear infections or suppuration, which are required for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board finds that the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease/degenerative joint disease is incurred in service and grants service connection for this condition. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not shown to be related to military noise exposure, and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if service connection can be established for a back injury, bilateral hearing loss, or an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the failure to schedule a VA examination as ordered by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, and right leg varicose veins are all granted. Bilateral hearing loss is not supported by the evidence of record as defined under VA regulations. Service connection for hemorrhoids and right leg varicose veins is established based on in-service treatment and continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and otitis media have been denied as there is no evidence of active middle ear infections or suppuration, which are required for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and bilateral ruptured eardrums with chronic ear infections, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between current conditions and military service.

The Board found that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest until many years after service and are not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Board determined that the May 1966 reduction of the disability rating for hearing loss was proper and denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine if he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a 10 percent rating, and his bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent from August 30, 2001 to January 7, 2005. The appeal for increased ratings was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches are rated at a maximum of 50 percent, effective September 2004. The Veteran is granted an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected headaches and denied a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of medical information linking the appellant's bilateral hearing loss to his military service. The appellant is requested to provide medical records and undergo an audiological examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since March 15, 2005. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating.