Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic tinnitus is related to his service, specifically his aerial gunnery training and combat experiences. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a direct link between his current bilateral hearing loss disability and his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation throughout the rating period on appeal, resulting in a denial of his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA audiological examination and reviewing all relevant medical records to determine if there is any link between the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for tinnitus and service connection for hearing loss in his left ear, finding that there is no legal basis to grant these claims based on VA regulations.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for anxiety disorder, hearing loss, and sinusitis. However, it found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for PTSD was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, including his right ear hearing loss, is service-connected. The right ear hearing loss was aggravated by service due to acoustic trauma sustained during combat training and work environment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence received after a previous supplemental statement of the case.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left elbow and forearm disabilities have been evaluated, with the left elbow disability receiving a 20 percent evaluation and the left forearm disability receiving a separate 30 percent evaluation.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and assigned a 50 percent rating since May 9, 2005. The veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is denied as she does not currently have the required auditory threshold levels to meet VA criteria for hearing loss. For the period prior to May 9, 2005, the Board has granted a 30 percent rating based on occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board finds that there is no evidence showing a current disability of left ear hearing loss or tinnitus due to service, and the gap in treatment between separation from service and January 2002 preponderates against finding continuity of symptomatology. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and there is no evidence of a left leg disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence received is not new and material to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, rated at 40 percent, does not warrant an increase in his disability rating.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected dorsal and lumbar scoliosis, postoperative condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent. The combined disability evaluation is 40 percent, which corresponds to the current 40 percent schedular evaluation. As such, the claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus to service.

The veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 17, 2002 for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as the law does not allow an earlier effective date than when the claim was filed.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Board also found that there is no medical evidence showing that the veteran's current hearing loss was incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for further examination and notification.