Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, have been found to preclude substantially gainful employment. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected, with the evidence being at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from 80 percent to noncompensable was proper. The claim of service connection for ulcers is reopened, but the evidence does not support a grant of service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder condition, and right plantar condition prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied. The claim of entitlement to service connection for pneumonia to include pulmonary disease remains pending.

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

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is found to be etiologically related to in-service hazardous noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, migraines, heart disability, arthritis, and respiratory disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's right ear canal stenosis has been granted an initial 10 percent disability rating, effective from the date of service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and ear pain were not found to be service-connected as they are not considered disabilities for VA purposes. The Board determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability or an ear pain disorder, and thus denied his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and vertigo are related to his service. However, there is no evidence of a current bilateral foot disorder attributable to service.

The Veteran's claim for right ear hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability. The Veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss is granted as his sensorineural hearing loss had its initial onset in service or is otherwise shown to be etiologically related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all service-connected. The decision grants these claims based on direct evidence of a nexus between the conditions and service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no left ear hearing loss disability and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus has been denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to a higher schedular and extraschedular rating for tinnitus, as well as the issue of TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran did not serve in a unit determined to have operated in the Korean DMZ between April 1, 1968 and August 31, 1971. The evidence failed to show herbicide exposure during service.

The appeal is being remanded for the issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) after additional evidence was submitted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted with a noncompensable rating effective May 26, 2009. The RO also granted an earlier effective date of May 26, 2009.