Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 29, 2008 for the award of a 100 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The criteria for special monthly compensation based on deafness in both ears and housebound status are also not met prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, and thus denied the claims for service connection. The evidence does not establish a nexus between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding it at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service. However, the Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to June 1, 2016.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The claim for thoracolumbar spine disorder is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issue of service connection for hearing loss disability is remanded due to the need for an opinion regarding its relationship to tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered a chronic disease under VA regulations and the Board finds sufficient evidence to support that he experienced symptoms from active duty onwards, granting service connection for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, low back disability, and other conditions, are sufficient to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder status post rotator cuff and cartilage repair with osteoarthritis has also been denied due to the lack of evidence showing limitation of motion at or below the shoulder level.

The Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as his audiometric tests do not show he is entitled to such a rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 13, 2011, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him incapable of performing employment duties.

The appeal to reopen a service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Veteran's statements as to his hearing problems upon service discharge and continuing after service are presumed credible, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is of service origin and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including a major neurocognitive disorder resulting from a TBI and depressive disorder), and hypertension. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hepatic steatosis is denied.,The Veteran's right knee, left knee, and fat in blood (hyperlipidemia) conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for a right knee condition, right ankle condition, GERD, and lower back condition are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and is remanding the issue of assigning a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or objective indications of qualifying chronic disabilities due to environmental exposures in the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus was filed on September 15, 2012. The Board found that the earliest date for which service connection can be effective is September 15, 2012, thus denying a request for an earlier effective date.