Hearing loss Board decisions

The veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected shell fragment wounds and current headaches, vision problems, and hearing loss. The veteran must be provided updated Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA) notice.

The Board found that the evidence received since the April 1979 rating decision does not relate the veteran's bilateral hearing loss to his military service and is therefore not new and material, thus denying the claim of reopening.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current right ear hearing disability and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a BVA hearing at a local VA office.

The Board has granted a higher initial evaluation of 80 percent for bilateral hearing loss, effective June 19, 2000.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal because his timely substantive appeal was not filed within one year of the April 2001 denial and over sixty days after he received a statement of the case. The right ankle arthritis claim is also dismissed as there is no evidence to support service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cognitive disorder, secondary to meningitis, warrants a 70 percent disability rating. The combined service-connected disabilities result in a total disability evaluation, qualifying him for TDIU.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD was incurred in active military service and grants this claim. The hearing loss evaluation remains pending as it requires further development.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the initial ratings for herniated nucleus pulposus and left ear hearing loss, thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim for an increased disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, as the veteran's hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss were evaluated, but the PTSD did not warrant a higher rating, while the hearing loss was rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his time in service, specifically due to acoustic trauma during military service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer and hearing loss, finding that there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The veteran's prostate cancer is not considered related to herbicide exposure or radiation, while his hearing loss claim is pending due to insufficient evidence.

The veteran's current bilateral hearing loss does not meet the regulatory criteria to be considered a disability for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military service. However, there is no evidence of tinnitus during or after service, and thus service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. He has not yet been scheduled for this hearing.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to service, and denied service connection for dental trauma due to lack of evidence. The claim for dental trauma was also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for post-thoracotomy neuralgia remains pending.