Hearing loss Board decisions

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity that they prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claims for service connection were granted, but an effective date prior to November 29, 2002 is not warranted as the earliest possible effective date would be that day.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not caused by the antibiotic treatment he received during his VA hospitalization for MRSA pneumonia in November 2000, and thus compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the veteran's request and because of his advanced age.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining worker's compensation records and scheduling a VA examination to address the etiology of the veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, and otitis media.

The veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Board has remanded the case to obtain updated treatment records and schedule a VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his hearing impairment, as well as its impact on employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a 20 percent evaluation, effective from August 2, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional audiometric testing and a new examination of the veteran's left ear hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an ENT examination.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical examination to determine if the veteran's service-connected disabilities, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The RO will then readjudicate the issue.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tonsillectomy do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as his service-connected disabilities are rated at 70 percent combined, which meets the percentage requirements. The VA examiner found that the veteran's employability was limited due to severe heart problems rather than hearing loss.

The Board determined that the veteran's hearing loss did not exist prior to service and was not aggravated by active service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was initially rated as noncompensably disabling and increased to a 10 percent rating effective January 23, 2008. The current evaluation is higher than the initial one assigned in December 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a shrapnel wound to his right hand, and hypertension. The evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn before any decision was made by the Board.

The Board found no evidence of left ear hearing loss or tinnitus in service, and the medical evidence does not support a connection to service. The veteran's current conditions are attributed to private medical interventions rather than military noise exposure.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus, nor any nexus between current disabilities and service.

The Board has found that service connection for tinnitus is warranted. The case is being remanded to determine the current severity of the veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.