Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unemployable, as he is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Veteran's initial disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was granted at a 10 percent rating effective July 24, 1998. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in his disability rating beyond this initial evaluation.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss had its inception during active service due to his exposure to acoustic trauma during combat. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to acoustic trauma. The VA medical examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss is not caused by or a result of his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and did not reopen the claim for left knee disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an initially compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence of record. An additional VA audiological examination is needed to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, but his skin cancer is not. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the skin cancer and service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 60 percent disabling, but the Board finds that his disability does not warrant a higher rating based on current evidence.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss or tinnitus disability during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, including due to noise exposure during military service. The most probative evidence indicated these conditions are unrelated to his military service.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service records and a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for stomach, hypertension, heart, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities were denied as there is no competent medical evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain service personnel records, treatment records from the USS Valley Forge, and any relevant post-service medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including renal insufficiency with hypertension, cataracts, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, hearing loss, and tinnitus render the Veteran unemployable. Therefore, the Board finds that entitlement to individual unemployability is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and needs further development, including obtaining an audiogram and scheduling a VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from November 2000 to August 2001 is granted as he meets the schedular criteria and there is probative evidence of his unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.