Hearing loss Board decisions

The veteran's claim for TDIU was granted effective April 24, 2003. The Board found that the earliest date of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus is April 24, 2003, which is when the TDIU should have been granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant's left ear hearing loss does not meet VA regulatory requirements to be considered a disability for VA purposes and is not related to military service.

The veteran's increased rating claim for cerebrospinal meningitis with tinnitus is denied. The Board also found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has not been shown to have increased in severity since his last VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor can they be presumed to have been so incurred. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for a right knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence was not received in either case.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to disease or injury during his active military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from the Ohio Army National Guard and scheduling a VA audiological examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any currently manifested hearing loss.

The veteran's claim is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and conflicting evidence about his exposure to combat noise during service. A new examination is needed to address these matters.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of recent private medical evidence.

The veteran's initial disability ratings for bilateral tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss have been denied as they are already at the maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, effective October 28, 2002. The claim for an increased rating remains pending as the grant does not represent a total grant of benefits sought on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions were incurred during active duty.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's chronic left ear otitis media residuals and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of active ear disease or significant hearing impairment.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a perforated right ear drum or hearing loss, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The claim of reopening the previously denied fungal infection of bilateral ears is also denied as new evidence did not show the presence of such an infection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. However, additional development is required regarding the underlying service connection claims due to a lack of medical records from active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, conducting a VA audiological examination, and providing VCAA notice.

The veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions, including erectile dysfunction, hearing loss, knee disabilities, cervical spine issues, blackouts and memory loss, and stomach problems. The Board has ordered additional medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions, as well as whether service connection can be established for them.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating of 10 percent for his bilateral defective hearing, finding that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.