Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's service records did not show any in-service hearing loss or tinnitus, and his current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, finding no evidence of chronic conditions in service or that they are related to service. The initial ratings assigned were upheld.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD was granted and assigned a 70 percent rating effective October 15, 2002. The issues of service connection for seizures and blackouts, arthritis of the left great toe, and entitlement to higher initial evaluations for PTSD prior to May 24, 2000 are pending.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as noncompensably disabling, and the Board has granted this evaluation.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability evaluation for pension purposes was denied as he does not have one nonservice-connected disability rated at 60 percent or more, nor do his disabilities bring the combined rating to 70 percent or more. The Board found that the veteran is not permanently and totally disabled due to nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to his military noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's neck injury residuals and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss are not related to active duty service, thus denying both claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully evaluate the veteran's claims for service connection. The RO will seek missing service medical records, obtain relevant private treatment records, and schedule a VA examination.

The Board granted the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but assigned a non-compensable evaluation. The veteran did not have puretone thresholds of 55 decibels or more at each of the 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hertz frequencies for either ear.

The veteran is entitled to an effective date of March 5, 1996 for the grant of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for his disabilities resulting from a VA surgery in 1996.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no persuasive medical evidence linking his current hearing loss to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to inadequate examination and incomplete development of the record.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left shoulder disability and a noncompensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA regulations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete service records and the need for additional VA medical records. The issues of bilateral hearing loss service connection and non-service-connected disability pension benefits are also being addressed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear and maintained his initial compensable rating for hearing loss of the left ear.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements set out in 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The case is remanded to determine if the veteran should receive a separate rating for diplopia and to refer it to the Compensation and Pension Director under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) for further consideration.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered in light of any additional evidence.

The Board has decided the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a higher initial rating for hemorrhoids. The veteran does not have current hearing loss, and her hemorrhoids are currently rated as 0 percent disabling based on their mild to moderate nature. The remaining issues must be remanded due to procedural errors.