Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, as defined by VA regulations. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining an opinion on whether the veteran's hearing loss at entry was aggravated by service and a determination of whether his tinnitus is related to service. The case will be held in abeyance until these issues are resolved.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on his audiometric test results, and thus denied his claim.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection as there was insufficient continuity of symptomatology to support a grant based on post-service complaints.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The left ear hearing loss claim is remanded for readjudication.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions did not have a nexus to his active service. The VA examination revealed significant sensorineural hearing loss but concluded it was not likely due to noise exposure during service.

The VA determined that the veteran's hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as his current hearing loss has not been documented to be at levels supporting a compensable rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability was granted. The claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids and erectile dysfunction were also granted, with the rating for hemorrhoids being set at 10 percent effective November 4, 2004, and the rating for erectile dysfunction being set at 20 percent effective September 28, 2006.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability of hearing loss as defined by VA regulations. For his knee and hand conditions, the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes. The adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety was also not rated at a higher level.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in speech recognition scores from VA's latest compensation and pension (C&P) audio examination. The veteran needs to provide evidence that addresses whether the tests were conducted by a state-licensed audiologist, if they used the Maryland CNC test, and if they were conducted without hearing aids.

The Board has identified the issues as whether the reduction in the evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from 20 percent to 0 percent was proper and entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The appeal is being remanded due to inconsistencies with the VA examination results.

The Board denied increased evaluations for tinnitus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, mechanical low back pain as a result of disc degeneration, and bilateral hearing loss. The highest possible rating (10%) was already assigned for the veteran's tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and to reopen his claim of service connection for a back disability. The veteran withdrew his appeal to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disability prior to the decision being made.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, is being remanded for additional development.

The Board found that the veteran's current hearing loss is not causally related to his active service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence. Service connection for tinnitus was denied as the veteran's claim is not supported by medical opinion linking his current condition to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions of chronic bilateral hearing loss and chronic tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is a result of noise exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to his in-service noise exposure.

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