Hearing loss Board decisions

The veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his left elbow scars, reopening of PTSD and hearing loss with tinnitus service connection claims were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have a disability manifested by atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease. The claim for service connection for this condition is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The Board found no basis to grant higher ratings or earlier effective dates in any of the issues addressed.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss and challenges the April 6, 1973, rating decision that assigned a non-compensable rating for right ear hearing loss. The case must be remanded to address both issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The veteran's hearing acuity is currently no worse than Level II in both ears, warranting a noncompensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for scarred eardrums, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus have been denied as there is no legal basis to assign higher disability ratings under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep disorder, and shoulder disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board has determined that additional development, including a VA examination and opinion, is needed to determine the etiology of his hearing loss.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities result in him being substantially confined to his dwelling or immediate premises and he requires the care or assistance of another person on a regular basis to protect himself from the hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment. The Board has determined that there is at least a reasonable doubt as to whether the veteran's service connected disabilities render him so disabled as to require the aid and attendance of another person, thus granting special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to inadequate notice provided by the RO.

The veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his hearing loss began during service and worsened as a civilian.

The veteran's request for a videohearing before the Board has been rescheduled due to his illness. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The veteran's service-connected psychosis is rated at 50%. The Board denied claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, as well as entitlement to TDIU due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The veteran's current disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss disability and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. For tinnitus, the Board noted exposure to noise in service but concluded that there was insufficient medical evidence linking the condition to service or post-service occupational noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board found no relationship between current hearing loss and service, thus denying the claim for bilateral hearing loss. For the rash claim, the Board determined that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected hearing loss does not warrant a higher initial disability rating, and thus denied the claim.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his generalized anxiety disorder and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The VA found that the combined rating of his service-connected conditions (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Right Wrist Shrapnel Injury, and Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss) did not meet the minimum schedular criteria for a T/R.