Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and separate 10 percent disability ratings for each ear for tinnitus.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for an appropriate VA examination.

The VA denied a compensable rating for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that his condition corresponds to Level I hearing acuity, warranting no more than a noncompensable rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his medical records and an examination to determine if he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The evidence shows that the veteran was exposed to noise during his military service and currently has bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, which is considered a compensable disability under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of whether the veteran's discharge from service is a bar to VA benefits. The claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss will also be reconsidered.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma, finding that the veteran's condition began during his active duty. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is pending as additional VA treatment records are needed.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss to his military service, including any noise exposure. The VA audiologist concluded that the hearing loss was due to presbycusis (aging-related hearing loss).

The Board has determined that the veteran's dizziness, which is rated as 30 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 6204, does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current level of disability did not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The veteran does not currently have residuals of a left foot injury. Right ear hearing loss has been diagnosed and is service-connected, but the veteran's left ear hearing loss remains non-service-connected.,An initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is denied as it is at its highest possible level.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's ears were evaluated as normal on his separation examination, and there are no in-service findings indicative of hearing problems. His current hearing loss disability was not diagnosed until almost 15 years after separation from service.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss, leaving only the issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and other conditions.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss, but assigned a noncompensable disability rating. The only issue on appeal is the original compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus disabilities, and there is no evidence linking his claimed PTSD to service. As a result, the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD were denied.

The Board found that the veteran's right ear sensorineural hearing loss did not begin during service and is not related to his military service. The claim for tinnitus was denied as there was no evidence of current tinnitus at the time of the examination.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an audiological examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, currently rated at 40 percent disabling.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.