Hearing loss Board decisions

The veteran's appeal for higher ratings on his back injury residuals and associated radiculopathy was denied. The initial rating of 20 percent for the back injury with a claimed kidney condition is maintained, as well as separate 10 percent ratings for radiculopathy affecting both lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to a lack of medical evidence supporting his service connection claims and because proper notice under Dingess v. Nicholson, 19 Vet. App. 473 (2006), was not provided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated in active military service and denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not causally related to his active service or any incident therein.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate notice provided to the veteran regarding his claims for increased ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated in active military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions. His right foot scar claim is also being remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, finding that his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The veteran's removal of left testicle and epididymis is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 7524.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an endocrine disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

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

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic disability manifest by dizziness that began during service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not show it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The case is being remanded for additional audiometric testing to evaluate the current severity of the veteran's hearing loss.

The veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 20 percent from November 24, 2004 to November 1, 2007 and 10 percent thereafter.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated during active service and is not etiologically related to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between current disability and service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a zero percent disability rating. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and knee/back conditions are not compensably rated, but the appeal is remanded to determine appropriate ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and ALS, as well as his request for an increased rating for PTSD. The veteran was granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD effective July 2, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability related to his service-connected dental injury, and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or hearing loss. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a medical opinion assessing his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.