Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 50 percent for these conditions.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed, including obtaining missing service medical records and audiogram results. The veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus will be remanded to the RO.

The Board found that service connection is not warranted for a bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, or a left hand disorder as a result of cold injury due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss, diagnosed since September 9, 2002, does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during his period of active service from October 1965 to October 1967, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including exposure to noise during active duty. As a result, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to acoustic trauma during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and a left foot injury, as well as his service connection claims for a respiratory disorder and a back disorder. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis and chronic bronchitis, bilateral hearing loss, dermatitis of the feet, and tinnitus. The claim for an increased evaluation for degenerative disc disease was not addressed in this decision.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there is no current disability to support a grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss cannot be earlier than January 16, 2001, as it was based on the receipt of a claim rather than the factual determination of an etiological link to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD. The claim of service connection for PTSD was denied on the basis that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim since a March 2001 rating decision which denied the claim on the merits.

The VA reduced the veteran's evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from 20 percent to noncompensable, finding that his current hearing levels do not meet the criteria for a 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss that amounts to a disability for VA purposes and therefore service connection is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 15, 2002 for service connection of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The decision is based on the fact that no formal or informal claim was filed prior to this date and there is no indication he attempted to reopen his claim before then.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his current level of hearing acuity is considered level I in each ear.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as evidenced by level I hearing in both ears, does not warrant a compensable evaluation from the effective date of service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss in his right ear is no more than 10 percent disabling, and denied an increased evaluation for adjustment disorder with mixed features.