Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus due to combat-related acoustic trauma during service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability within one year after separation and the medical evidence does not support a link between service and the condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis was granted, with a current rating of 20 percent effective January 19, 2006. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran is currently diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, all related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of his request for a DRO hearing.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, while the scars on his face warrant a noncompensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for reopening his right ear hearing loss claim and denying an increased rating for left ear hearing loss. The evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and he is now rated at 10% from May 25, 2007. The effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was set at August 29, 2001.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. His claim for an increased rating of PTSD from May 20, 2008 was granted with a 50% disability rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by military service, as his pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted effective May 7, 2008. The Board found no evidence of prior informal or formal claims filed before this date.

The Veteran meets the percentage standards for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities and is unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for emphysema with bronchitis (claimed as a lung disorder) is denied because there is no evidence of asbestos exposure during service and the current condition is not related to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no evidence that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss or tinnitus, nor is there any evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is likely caused by noise exposure during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing acuity did not warrant a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VCAA notice and for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the February 1975 rating decision for chronic bronchitis was denied due to lack of CUE. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied as there is no evidence that the current condition is related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.