Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a low back disorder that is related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective October 31, 2003. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied due to lack of evidence showing a direct link to service. Service connection for hyperkeratosis of the hands and feet (due to Agent Orange exposure) was granted.

The VA denied an initial (compensable) disability rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is likely due to service-related acoustical trauma, and he is granted service connection for this condition. For his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, a compensable evaluation of 10% was assigned.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to service and denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and the need for additional evidence, including a VA examination for hearing loss.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for a right hip disability, finding that there was no evidence of worsening or direct service connection. The claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was also denied.,The veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as level III under the VA Rating Schedule.

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

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not show a worsening of his hearing loss, skull fracture with headaches, or left thumb scar.

The veteran's initial evaluations for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment or a higher evaluation based on the current criteria.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for the veteran's right ear hearing loss, finding that his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and ulcers, as well as his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between the veteran's current right ear hearing loss and his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and further examination is required before service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be determined.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss in service and no competent evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss to his period of active service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus had their onset during active service, and thus granted service connection for these conditions.

The VA has granted an initial compensable evaluation of 10 percent for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, effective May 27, 2003.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.