Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability as secondary to a low back disability, and for bilateral hearing loss are denied. The claim of service connection for tinnitus is pending due to the need for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a relationship between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss disability was denied as the evidence did not show a nexus between his current condition and his military service. The claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating and earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal as to the increased rating issue.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is currently rated as 0 percent disabling, and his lower back disorder remains at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability and that his left ear hearing loss was present prior to service. The VA examiner opined that the preexisting left ear hearing loss did not increase in severity during service, and is not related to service. For tinnitus, the VA examiner also opined that it is not related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to in-service acoustic trauma, warranting service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an initial compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 40 percent, as his average right ear pure tone threshold is 71 decibels and left ear pure tone threshold is 75 decibels. The highest rating available under VA's rating schedule for bilateral hearing loss is 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for VA examination regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current hearing loss disability and in-service noise exposure.

The VA has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his audiometric results consistently reflect Level I hearing in both ears.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not manifest within one year of separation from service and is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to active service. The Board also found no aggravation of a pre-existing condition during reserve duty, and concluded that direct service connection for bilateral hearing loss was not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as evidenced by the lack of in-service complaints or diagnoses and normal audiometric results during service. The current conditions are more likely due to post-service noise exposure and other factors.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease with Barrett's esophagus is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 7346. His bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable.

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

The Veteran's pes planus, back disorder, major depression, hearing loss, and tinnitus were not found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and dependency allowance were denied, while his claim for an increased rating for PTSD was partially granted. The effective date of the PTSD disability rating remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claim.