Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues and a request for an initial evaluation higher than the currently assigned 50 percent for PTSD. The Veteran has also requested a hearing before a Decision Review Officer.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine and bilateral hearing loss disability were not incurred or aggravated in service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a compression injury to the spinal column is not addressed in this decision. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a varicocelectomy are both denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable (0%) due to the level of hearing impairment, which does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied prior to May 21, 2008. After this date, the VA found that his hearing loss warranted a 30% disability rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by average right ear pure tone thresholds of no worse than 29 decibels and left ear pure tone thresholds of 36 decibels, with speech discrimination scores in the 90s. The VA determined that these results do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The appeal for TDIU was not addressed as it is part of the remand portion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hearing loss. The decision is final as it was made in July 1999.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss on the basis of new and material evidence. However, the claims are being remanded to the RO for further development before readjudicating them on their underlying merits.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition, as the audiometry results did not warrant a compensable evaluation for hearing loss or a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA audiological examination and consideration of functional effects on daily activities and employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds that the appellant's current hearing impairment is related to his exposure to noise during active duty, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted as both conditions are found to be related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that a new VA audiological examination is needed due to the passage of almost four years since the last examination and because the Veteran's representative alleges greater impairment than currently reflected in the rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board. The Board found no current diagnoses of any claimed conditions, and thus could not establish a link between military service and these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Veteran also meets criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, but the assigned noncompensable evaluation is denied as his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current sensorineural hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service. Service connection was denied for a low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a video conference hearing.