Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's hearing loss in the right ear was incurred during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and a depressive disorder, as well as his claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU. The decision also granted entitlement to a 70 percent evaluation for the service-connected depressive disorder.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is established as service-connected due to noise exposure during combat. However, there is no evidence of PTSD and the right shoulder scar does not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his puretone thresholds and speech discrimination scores do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination to assess his current hearing loss and tinnitus conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining service medical records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any manifested nasal condition, sinusitis, lower back and neck condition, residuals of injury to the skull, hearing loss, tinnitus, and depression.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability is related to his service-connected right knee disability and grants service connection for this condition. However, there is no evidence of left ear hearing loss in service or otherwise linked to service, so the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction, as well as his claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy. The issues have been remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the appellant's hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and traumatic arthritis of the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spines. The preponderance of the evidence is against these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or residuals of eardrum damage, and thus service connection is denied for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of cold injury, to include arthritis of hands, legs, and feet. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

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

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no basis for a higher rating or to reopen the claim of service connection.

The veteran's appeal of the claim for service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy has been withdrawn. The Board also denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection and increased evaluations, finding no current disability or evidence of a disease incurred in service. The tinnitus claim was also denied as there is only one rating available under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a chronic disability of either knee, bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA regulations, or a disorder manifested by blurred vision other than what is associated with his service-connected headaches. As such, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for higher initial ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome of both wrists and service connection for bilateral heel pain, degenerative joint disease of the left index finger, and bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, hearing loss, and post-traumatic headaches have been denied as the RO has already assigned the maximum disability rating allowed under applicable regulations.