Hearing loss Board decisions

The veteran seeks service connection for hearing loss, which he claims is due to noise exposure during his active military service in Vietnam. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a decision can be made.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right ear hearing loss, as it did not meet the schedular criteria.

The VA denied an increased rating for hemorrhoids and hearing loss, as well as not reopening the tinnitus claim or granting service connection for a foot disability.

The Board has granted service connection for post-operative lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with laminectomy residuals, finding that the veteran's current condition is related to his inservice trauma. The issues of service connection for chronic hearing loss disability, a chronic shoulder disorder, and a chronic hip disorder are remanded for further development.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for the residuals of a back injury, and service connection for the residuals of a concussion were denied. The claim for an increased rating for the residuals of a shrapnel wound to the left knee and left elbow was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or continuity of symptomatology. The veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to deficiencies in VCAA notice and the need for additional development, including a VA examination for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's condition warranted a 40% rating under the applicable VA rating criteria. The highest possible evaluation has been granted.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, resulting in a denial of his claim.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus must be remanded due to incomplete development, including a need for clarification on whether he is a veteran of combat and was exposed to acoustic trauma during his military service.

The veteran's claim of TDIU was received on May 8, 2002. The RO granted TDIU effective from May 7, 2002 based on the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was granted, but the RO needs to schedule a new VA examination to determine the current level of disability due to his hearing loss. The claim is remanded for further development.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as her current disability level does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and service connection for arthritis of the back due to residuals of shell fragment wounds with scar over midline of lower back. The decision found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss, but did not address the issue of service connection for arthritis of the back.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss or tinnitus, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. Therefore, service connection for both hearing loss and tinnitus was denied.

The Board found that the veteran does not have an impaired hearing disability in either ear meeting VA compensation criteria, thus denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, currently evaluated at 60 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a rating higher than 10 percent for mitral valve regurgitation. The decision is final as the appeal was not about these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the effective date remains pending as it was not established in this decision.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disorder related to military service and denied the claim for service connection. For bilateral hearing loss, while there was noise exposure during service, the Board determined that the current disability is not linked to in-service acoustic trauma.