Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, and left wrist disability. The Veteran's eye disability is secondary to diabetes mellitus. The Board found no evidence of current bilateral peripheral neuropathy or bilateral hearing loss in service or due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's left wrist condition was not aggravated by service. New and material evidence has been submitted for the left wrist disability claim, which has been reopened.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability did not have onset during active service or within one year of separation for active service, and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including providing the Veteran with a VCAA notification letter and readjudicating his increased rating claims.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. The VA granted service connection for lumbosacral spine disability and assigned a noncompensable evaluation, which was later increased to 10 percent effective October 16, 2006.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, but dismissed the appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to withdrawal of the Substantive Appeal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that his tinnitus, which he contends is related to his service-connected hearing loss, has been established and granted service connection.

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

The Veteran's audiometric testing during the appeal period showed hearing acuity of level IV for the right ear and level VII for the left ear, which meets the schedular criteria for a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 50 percent, which represents the maximum schedular rating available. The claim for a TDIU remains unresolved.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted service connection based on evidence showing that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability is causally related to his active duty service. The claim of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for high frequency sensorineural hearing loss of the left ear is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision. The Board also found no evidence of a right foot disability, including toes, that was incurred during or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted service connection, but his claims for tinnitus and PTSD were denied as they are not related to service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss and found no basis to grant increased ratings for the other conditions. The Veteran's right thigh disability, diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are all rated as they currently stand.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his active military service, while the claims for a lung disability and an eye disability have been denied as they were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of hearing loss during service or within one year after service. The Board also found negative medical evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss was denied. The RO continued a 30 percent rating for PTSD and assigned a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 26, 2007, and a 10 percent rating thereafter.