Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his hearing acuity is rated at Level I in both ears.

The veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The claims for initial compensable evaluations for left ethmoid sinusitis and headaches are also granted.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied his claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss due to lack of medical evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss was aggravated during his period of active military service, and thus service connection is granted. For post-traumatic stress disorder, the veteran's current disability level does not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which first manifested many years after service, is not related to his military service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The VA has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss does not warrant an initial compensable evaluation.

The Board has received a withdrawal of the appeal from the appellant prior to any decision being made.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is manifested by average pure tone thresholds and speech discrimination scores translating to Level IV in the right ear and Level I in the left ear. The criteria for a compensable evaluation have not been met.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The claim will be returned to the Board after necessary actions are taken.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a personal hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include service connection claims and reopening of a previously denied PTSD claim.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and lower back shrapnel fragments, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, nor could they be presumed to have been incurred due to noise exposure. The claims for service connection were therefore denied.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral tinnitus and hearing loss was denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is assigned for each condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of new and material evidence for his service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no new evidence to reopen the previously denied claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as evidenced by a lack of in-service complaints or findings, normal hearing at separation, and no medical opinion linking these conditions to service. The claims for service connection have been denied.