Hearing loss Board decisions

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is manifested by Level I hearing acuity in both ears, and does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case for obtaining VA treatment records from Temple and Dallas facilities regarding the veteran's hearing loss in his left ear. The claim will be reconsidered based on all evidence.

Service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of June 28, 2000.,A 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted with an effective date of September 9, 2002.

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

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

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his current level of hearing acuity does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not present during service or for years thereafter, and concluded that there is no causal link between his hearing loss and any remote incident of service. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder. The veteran was not provided with a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding his PTSD claim, which is necessary before further appellate consideration.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate examination in the original decision. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Fort McClellan and Little Rock VA Medical Center.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing the veteran with proper VCAA notice.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, dizziness, impairment of vision, and hypertension due to undiagnosed illness. The veteran's tinnitus was assigned a 10% disability rating.

The veteran does not have current left ear hearing loss for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was increased from 40 percent to 50 percent effective July 7, 2005.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, which has been service-connected since November 20, 2002, does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.

The veteran's service-connected hearing disabilities have rendered him unemployable under VA guidelines, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and increased ratings were granted, with a noncompensable evaluation initially assigned for bilateral hearing loss from October 29, 2001, and a 40 percent evaluation thereafter. The other claims remain pending.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to acoustic trauma during service, and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service, and the medical evidence did not support a link between current conditions and active service. The acquired psychiatric disorder was also not linked to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss warrants a noncompensable rating, effective from January 30, 2004. The veteran is not entitled to an earlier effective date for his service connection or increased rating.