Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased evaluation for a scar of the right lower extremity, but granted his claim for an effective date earlier than April 24, 1998, for the grant of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a left knee disorder as secondary to a service-connected right knee disorder, diabetes mellitus, hearing loss, and an eye disorder. The claim for reopening a back disorder was also denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an ENT specialist examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left leg disability, and right leg disability. The case is being remanded to obtain an examination for the claimed residuals of a head injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his audiometric results do not meet the criteria for any higher rating under VA's disability rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete service medical records and the need for a VA examination.

The veteran's current hearing loss is determined to be the result of noise exposure during service in Vietnam, and thus service connection for hearing loss is granted.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss, tendonitis of the left knee, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The claims are denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, as his combined disability rating is only 60 percent and does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The VA has denied the veteran's request for an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss and also denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's skin disorder and hearing loss were not incurred or aggravated in active military service. The evidence does not show any chronicity of symptoms during or for over 50 years after separation from service.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The current diagnoses are not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic bilateral knee disorders and right ear hearing loss disability, as well as a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and residuals of a contusion to the middle finger of the left hand due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran was diagnosed with PTSD, but his claimed stressors have not been verified by JSRRC. His bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of dental trauma, finding no current disability or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran withdrew his appeal of two issues: entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and entitlement to a compensable rating for residuals, postoperative repair, extensor tendon, 4th and 5th digits, left hand with residual scars. The remaining issue is the evaluation of hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and severity of the veteran's hearing loss, as well as whether it is related to service. The case will be remanded for further action.