Hearing loss Board decisions

The veteran is seeking increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, right leg neuritis, and bilateral hearing loss. The RO has granted an initial 10 percent rating for the lumbar spine and a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 28, 2004. The veteran's claim is remanded due to the need for additional development of his Social Security Administration records.

The veteran's hearing loss in the right ear is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and a higher rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability related to his service, and thus cannot establish service connection for any of the conditions listed. The claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss disability was first manifested in service and is still shown, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his hearing acuity is only at Level VI and he does not have sufficient impairment in his non-service-connected right ear to qualify for an increased evaluation.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are due to noise exposure during his military service. The case has been remanded for a new VA audiological examination to determine the likely etiology of any current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during service or for many years thereafter. The Board also found no medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination and for securing his VA medical records. The issue of entitlement to an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered.

The veteran seeks a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for actinic keratosis. The Board denied both claims.,For the hearing loss, the evidence shows that the veteran has mixed hearing loss in his right ear and high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss in his left ear, resulting in noncompensable ratings under VA's rating schedule.

The veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a medical examination. The examiner will assess whether the veteran has vertigo related to his service-connected disabilities and determine if he is unemployable.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiological examination to determine the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of in-service noise exposure or current disability related to service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO in Portland, Oregon for scheduling a hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss effective from August 28, 2006. The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was previously rated as 0 percent and later increased to 10 percent.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to exposure to acoustic trauma during his military service.

The Board has found that the veteran's nonservice-connected dementia prevents him from working, but it is unclear if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The RO must obtain medical opinions on whether the veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining such employment.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the appellant did not have current right ear hearing loss disability as defined by VA standards. The claim was denied.