Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in service and may not be presumed. The skin condition of the head and hands, secondary to exposure to Agent Orange, could potentially be granted as direct service connection due to the veteran's verified service in Vietnam.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for otosclerosis with bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in July 2006.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss but denied service connection for a left leg disorder. The hearing loss is related to service, while the left leg disorder is not.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as his most recent audiometric evaluation shows Level III hearing loss in the right ear and Level IV in the left ear.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and a staged rating greater than 40 percent after April 11, 2006. The veteran was granted service connection for his hearing loss but not with any specific rating.

The veteran's claims for hearing loss, headaches, and impaired vision are being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA audiological examination.

The Board has found that the veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and his claims for increased ratings of the fractures were denied.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as his audiometric test results correspond to numeric designations no worse than Level V in both ears.

The Board determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not begin during service and was not caused by any incident of service. The claim for service connection for a bilateral ear disorder, to include hearing loss, is denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's TDIU claim due to incomplete evaluations regarding his back and hearing loss disabilities, which are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU issue. The AMC is instructed to obtain medical opinions from an orthopedist and a physician specializing in ears, nose, and throat disorders regarding the effect of the veteran's service-connected low back and bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss on his employability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent from July 24, 2000 to November 27, 2002 and a rating in excess of 40 percent from November 27, 2002 to present.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as noncompensably disabling. The most recent audiometric findings show mild to moderately-severe high frequency sensori-neural hearing loss in the right ear and moderate to severe high frequency sensori-neural hearing loss in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches has been reopened, and the case is being remanded to further develop evidence related to his claims. His bilateral hearing loss and Mônieres Disease are also inextricably intertwined with his current claims.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of service connection for a scar as the residual of left ear trauma and service connection for left-sided hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD, and his hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, or colitis are not service-connected. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, and therefore denies his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to noise from aircraft engines. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The VA Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right knee synovitis with chondromalacia do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.