Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, arthritis of the knees, ankles, elbows, and hands, and bilateral hearing loss were all denied. The Board found that there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for PTSD due to lack of corroborated stressor events. For arthritis, no current diagnosis was provided in the record. For hearing loss, a compensable rating could not be assigned as the Veteran's hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for an exceptional pattern.

The Veteran's chronic eye disability manifested by watering of the eyes is found to be related to his service-connected hyperthyroidism. Right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are also found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's failure to cooperate with a VA examination resulted in the denial of his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has never manifested worse than Level V hearing acuity in the right ear or worse than Level X hearing acuity in the left ear, resulting in a 40 percent disability rating. The Board denied an initial rating higher than 40 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 26, 2008 for a 30 percent disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as the earliest date entitlement arose was not prior to that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral mixed hearing loss is etiologically related to his active service, while tinnitus was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's skin disorder and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosed skin disorder, and his claimed hearing loss was not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant a compensable rating or service connection, and thus the appeal is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are attributable to in-service acoustic trauma. The appeal is allowed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no competent medical evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his time in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service. The claim for low back disability was denied as well due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from the VA Hines Medical Center and readjudicating the issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is as likely as not related to his service, specifically noise exposure during active duty. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to noise exposure in service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. As for tinnitus, a rating higher than 10 percent is not warranted, and an earlier effective date for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiology examination and compliance with Vazquez-Flores requirements.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his combined rating is only 20 percent, which does not meet the schedular percentage standards required.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, but finally granted in March 2006. The appellant's claim for accrued benefits was not based on a claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the submission of recent private audiological examination evidence suggesting an increase in severity.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence of a disability manifested by numbness of the toes, or evidence of a nexus between such a disability and service or a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for numbness of several toes secondary to traumatic cervical arthritis is denied.

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