Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that his TDIU claim is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter and is not related to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service and was first shown years post-service. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not resulted in a higher rating than the currently assigned 20 percent since his initial grant of service connection. The most recent audiometric testing did not show levels that would warrant an increased rating.

The VA has determined that the appellant does not have a hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and thus, service connection is denied. The claimant's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has received a withdrawal of the appeal from the appellant, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current disability that meets VA criteria for a hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The decision is based on direct service connection, as there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition or clear and unmistakable aggravation during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for his gunshot wound residuals were denied. The claim to reopen the bilateral hearing loss disability was also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be etiologically due to his military service, as evidenced by VA audiometric test results showing at least three auditory thresholds of 26 decibels or higher at designated frequencies and speech recognition scores less than 94 percent. Tinnitus was also found to be related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's throat cancer is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at a 10 percent disability rating, effective from May 31, 2006.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The claims for service connection for PTSD and an eye disability were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for tinnitus, recurrent episodes of otitis externa, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is the highest available under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if he meets the criteria for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability resulting from service-connected disabilities and whether referral to the appropriate department officials under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) for extraschedular consideration is warranted.

The Veteran's request for a hearing before the Board has been advanced and must be addressed. The case is REMANDED to schedule the Veteran for either a Video Conference or Travel Board hearing as soon as feasible.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is as likely as not due to in-service acoustic trauma, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities or a link to active service.