Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as his right ear hearing loss is rated at Level I and left ear hearing loss at Level V. The claim for an increased disability rating must therefore be denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his left foot disorder claim. The other claims were also denied.

The veteran is attempting to advance a claim for an earlier effective date for awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus. However, as noted above, the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court) has made it clear that there can be no 'freestanding' claim for an earlier effective date, because to allow such a claim would be contrary to the principles of finality set forth in 38 U.S.C.A. § 7105. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence linking his current hearing loss to his active service.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, based on his audiometric test results.

The veteran's hearing loss in the right ear was granted service connection effective October 15, 2004. For the period beginning October 15, 2004, he is now rated at 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and his bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that no formal or informal claims were filed before March 29, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are service-connected, with a rating of 50 percent for PTSD.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not warrant a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased disability rating of 50 percent for PTSD, effective from the date of service connection. The veteran's claim for a higher rating is denied.

The veteran does not have sufficient hearing loss to be considered a disability by VA standards, and his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the veteran's recollections of his experiences in World War II are consistent with the nature and circumstances of combat action. The veteran is not entitled to service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus as there was no medical evidence provided by VA.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain missing service treatment records, private audiological examination reports, and VA treatment records. The veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are currently under review.

The veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for a diaphragm disability, service connection for hearing loss in the right ear, and entitlement to an increased rating for tinnitus have been denied. The RO has scheduled the veteran for VA examinations to evaluate his current level of severity for these conditions.

The VA has determined that the veteran's hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as it falls within the range of normal hearing and does not meet the criteria for an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 10 percent since August 8, 2005. He seeks a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, neck or cervical spine disability, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision is based on a finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities or a causal link to service.