Hearing loss Board decisions

The veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for another VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as they are more likely due to natural aging rather than noise exposure in service.

The veteran withdrew his claims for asthma, cardiac disability, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss prior to the Board's decision. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine remains pending.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of hearing loss of the right ear remains pending as it was withdrawn by the veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his hearing loss and perforation of the tympanic membrane due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for a new examination.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not become manifest during service and is not otherwise related to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The VA granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, effective July 29, 2003. The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to March 7, 2005, for TDIU due to lack of factual ascertainability of unemployability within one year before the date of his claim.

The veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and the appellant is not entitled to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 as he did not meet the required criteria for total disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after service. The claim for higher initial disability rating for PTSD was withdrawn by the appellant.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating for his left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss disability and active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further examination.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertriglyceridemia was denied as the condition is not a disability under VA laws and regulations. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability, in-service occurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury, or medical nexus between an in-service disease or injury and the current disability.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling since October 23, 2003. The VA has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to total occupational or social impairment.,The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as noncompensable. The VA found no evidence of total occupational or social impairment.

The VA denied an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's current Level I hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by military service, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his time in active duty. The diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are from many years after separation from service.