Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service. The Board also noted that the veteran had not provided competent medical evidence linking his current conditions to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, finding that there is no link between his diagnosed hearing loss and any incident of his active military service.

The veteran's post-concussion syndrome with headaches, organic disorder, and dysthymia is rated at 100% prior to June 23, 1999, and since then the rating has been increased to 70%. The veteran's labyrinthitis warrants a 30% disability rating. Right ear hearing loss does not warrant any compensable evaluation.,The veteran was granted a 100% disability rating for his service-connected post-concussion syndrome with headaches, organic disorder, and dysthymia prior to June 23, 1999, based on the evidence showing he was demonstrably unable to obtain or retain employment as a result of this condition. The veteran's labyrinthitis is rated at 30% since it is manifested by tinnitus, dizziness, and occasional staggering.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of current disability or a relationship to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine, and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is denied for a scar of the lateral left cornea and remanded for further examination to determine if arthritis of both hands could be related to service.

The Board finds that the currently demonstrated bilateral hearing disability is likely due to noise exposure during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a hearing before the RO's Decision Review Officer and obtaining records from the VAMC in Atlanta. The veteran should also provide details of his in-service stressors and undergo a psychiatric examination if necessary.

The Board finds that the veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are due to service, and grants service connection for these conditions. The left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable.

The VA determined that there is no evidence of a hearing disability or tinnitus during service, and the Board finds insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between current disabilities and service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a hearing loss disability and tinnitus, but denied the claim for a lung disability due to exposure to asbestos in service.

The Board found that the evidence submitted was not new and material, thus denying the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss by VA standards and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The veteran's hearing loss disability is manifested by no more than Level I hearing loss in the right ear and no more than Level II hearing loss in the left ear, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss warranted a noncompensable rating based on the July 2003 and July 2004 audiometric evaluations.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with the effective date being April 19, 2005. The hearing loss and PTSD conditions received their respective increases to 10 percent and 70 percent ratings from that date onwards. For his feet, he was granted a 20 percent rating for traumatic arthritis of the right foot as of May 16, 2005, and a 30 percent rating for traumatic arthritis of the left foot starting from September 27, 2000.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current right ear hearing loss is related to his period of active military service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The veteran's service connection claim for status post septoplasty is granted. The appeals regarding right foot strain, bilateral hearing loss, and increased rating for lumbar spine strain are dismissed.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The case has been remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination and additional VCAA notice.