Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma during a period of INACDUTRA, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has found that the Veteran's post-service treatment records are not available and have ordered additional efforts to locate them. The claims for service connection, new and material evidence to reopen, and initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss are all remanded.

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

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not incurred during his active duty due to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claim for PTSD and hypertension are both denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss, finding that his pre-existing hearing loss did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated at zero percent, as the audiometric results do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities are related to active military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the current record.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence being added without a waiver, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to service and he is granted service connection for this condition. His bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an initial compensable rating, as the VA examination results correspond to a noncompensable evaluation. The Veteran's left leg restless leg syndrome is denied as there is no evidence of its development in service.

The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while the claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further examination as no VA examinations have been provided.

The Board has granted service connection for pulmonary fibrosis and asbestosis, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision also remanded the issue of service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The Veteran's service-connected hearing disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since August 1974. The most recent VA examination in February 2018 showed no improvement and the Veteran continues to meet criteria for a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to TDIU.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.,Service connection for tinnitus, secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss, is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the evidence supports a link to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing right ear hearing loss was aggravated during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on his audiometric test results.