Hearing loss Board decisions

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if there was any additional disability due to fault on VA's part in furnishing medical care.

The veteran's appeal is currently pending and has been remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals for clarification on his hearing preferences.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational background and occupational experience.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, but his tinnitus and claimed PTSD are not. The appeal for PTSD remains pending as the issue of whether it was incurred in service or if there is a link to service is unclear.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and providing proper VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence submitted, but it is still denied as there is no causal relationship between current hearing loss and service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining a VA audiometric examination to determine if the appellant's current hearing loss disability is related to his noise exposure in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to noise exposure during his period of active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 40 percent for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss, which is higher than the previously assigned 30 percent rating. The veteran's hearing acuity was found to warrant this increased rating based on the exceptional pattern of hearing impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection and evaluations of prostatitis, right knee disability, and chondromalacia of the left knee.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address claims of service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The veteran's stressor allegations regarding a helicopter crash are also under review.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted, effective from August 7, 1957. The initial evaluation remains at 10%.

The veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation for conjunctivitis was denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, hearing loss of the left ear, major depressive disorder with alcohol abuse in remission, bilateral tarsometatarsal degenerative arthrosis, left acromioclavicular joint degenerative changes (osteoarthritis), status post non-displaced tibial plateau fracture of the left knee, and arthritic changes of the cervical spine.

The veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the RO granted service connection for a stomach condition but did not assign any effective date. The veteran continues to disagree with the assigned rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric, hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation prior to March 22, 2005 and does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent effective from March 22, 2005 for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss within one year after service and the VA audiologist's opinion was based on objective testing, leading to denial of the claim.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, cervical spine, low back, and left shoulder disabilities as secondary to a service-connected disability. However, the evidence does not support a finding of current diagnoses or a link between these conditions and active service or a service-connected condition.