Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected due to noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted. The Board finds the Veteran unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including Parkinson’s disease and hearing loss. Right ear hearing loss disability and Parkinson’s disease are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's current right ear hearing loss was incurred during service and is considered continuous since then. The Board granted the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted. The issue of an initial compensable rating for residuals of left wrist fracture remains on appeal, as the Veteran has not withdrawn his request to continue the appeal. Service connection for allergic rhinitis with deviated septum prior to August 24, 2016, and in excess of 10 percent since that date is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, both found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Veteran's claim for an extraschedular rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his TDIU claim due to service-connected disability was also denied. The Board found that the schedular criteria adequately described his disability level and symptomatology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded for further review. The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to October 27, 2015, was also remanded due to unemployability caused by service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were reopened. The claim for tinnitus was granted, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss was not reopened.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the appellant is not entitled to DIC benefits as her husband had never been rated as totally disabled for at least ten years prior to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment is related to his in-service noise exposure and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is manifested by hearing acuity no worse than Level III in both ears, with no exceptional pattern of hearing loss. The evidence does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for myalgias, bilateral hearing loss disability, PTSD, a lumbosacral spine disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD (major depressive disorder) have been denied. The Board found no current disabilities due to the claimed conditions or incidents of service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The claims for increased ratings for PTSD and right ankle disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had current diagnoses of hearing loss and tinnitus, which were likely linked to his active duty service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right eye injury residuals, status post corneal transplant and bilateral hearing loss. The decision is based on direct service connection due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and remanded the issue of a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his military service. The evidence shows significant noise exposure during active duty which is considered a direct link to the current disabilities.