Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that further development is needed and the case must be remanded for compliance with VA's notification and development requirements.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including PTSD, hearing loss, upper respiratory disorders, tonsillitis, hemorrhoids, low back injury, frostbite, ingrown toenails, numbness of hands, fracture of left thumb, right shoulder dislocation, left elbow disability, arthritis of the back and shoulders, hyperopia and presbyopia, chloracne (claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure), or acute/subacute peripheral neuropathy (claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure).

The Board found that the veteran's left ear hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under either the old or new VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied because no new and material evidence was submitted to reopen his previously denied claim.

The Board has restored the veteran's 90 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his hearing impairment was not due to an intercurrent injury and that he should receive this higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability manifested by hearing loss in the right ear or tinnitus, and denied his claims for service connection. The claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected hearing loss in the left ear was also denied.

The veteran's bilateral sensori-neural hearing loss was caused by acoustic trauma sustained during World War II, and the Board has granted service connection for this disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, as it was incurred in or aggravated by military service. The skin disorder secondary to Agent Orange exposure is also found to be service-connected.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service. The veteran must undergo a VA audiometry examination to determine if he currently suffers from these disabilities, and whether they are related to his military service.

The Board's decisions denying service connection for various conditions were found to be clearly and unmistakably erroneous, leading to their revision.

The veteran's hearing loss and low back disability have been granted, with a 10% rating for the low back disability.

The Board found that the results of the audiometric examinations conducted during the appeal period were unreliable and thus did not provide a basis to grant a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss warrants a 10 percent extra-schedular evaluation due to its impact on his employment, forcing him to switch from operating heavy machinery to working as a mechanic.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is a result of acoustic trauma sustained during military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cervical spine disability have been shown to be causally related to his military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent and does not warrant a higher rating based on current evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any current disabilities related to his service, including urinary tract infections, poor vision, hearing loss disability, and gastrointestinal disorders. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus and determined that new and material evidence has been submitted.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss as a direct result of noise exposure during active military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as evidenced by a lack of objective evidence during active duty and no worsening noted in post-service medical records. The claimant's hearing loss was attributed to noise exposure from his employment at Bethlehem Steel Corporation.