Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent (noncompensable). The RO has not provided a rating in excess of the current noncompensable rating for this condition.,The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee was granted an increased rating to 10 percent effective April 20, 2006. The Veteran is currently receiving a 10 percent disability rating for his right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with notice and a need for additional development, including clarification of whether the Veteran desires a videoconference hearing.

The VA determined that the appellant does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for residual scar of a left thumb laceration and tinea unguium of the bilateral toenails, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, anemia, mixed personality disorder (claimed as PTSD), and refractive error of eyes have all been denied. The evidence does not show any current disability that would warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was initially granted service connection effective August 10, 2005. For the period from August 10, 2005 to March 26, 2008, he had a Numeric Designation of II in the right ear and IV in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for hearing loss, recurrent tinnitus, and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

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

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, left hip, and left shoulder. Service connection is denied for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive lung disease, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease and menisci tear of the left knee was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left patella chondromalacia and sensorineural hearing loss of the left ear were denied as there is no evidence to support a rating in excess of 20 percent for the knee condition or a higher rating for the hearing loss.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations needed to determine his employability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and retaining employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests. As the effects of an employability impairment have been overcome, he does not have an employment handicap.

The Board has determined that further VA audiological evaluations are needed to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for hearing loss as a disability for VA purposes. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for further VA examination to assess the functional effects of his hearing disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, resulting in a denial of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, and lumbar strain were all granted with effective dates of June 9, 2002. The Veteran was awarded a noncompensable evaluation for his service-connected eye disability. His initial compensable evaluation for lumbar strain was assigned on May 19, 2003.

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

The Board found that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service and is not related to his active duty service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the veteran's active military service.