Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim as he passed away during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that there is no evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were evaluated, but the claims for initial compensable ratings were denied as his conditions did not warrant a higher rating under VA's schedular criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The decision also remanded several issues, including the claim of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to discrepancies in audiometric test results and the need for further examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing loss in the left ear was determined to be aggravated by noise exposure during military service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability, and a new VA examination is needed.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service. The case will be returned for further action.

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 bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not show any worsening of the Veteran's hearing impairment over time and thus no entitlement to a higher disability rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left foot injury and right ear hearing loss are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral knee disability due to lack of new and material evidence, and the opinion from the VA examiner found no direct relationship between the Veteran's left foot plantar fasciitis and his bilateral knee degenerative joint disease.

Service connection is granted for a left ankle disability, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The left ear hearing loss was also granted on an aggravation basis.,The Veteran's current left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are considered to be due to noise exposure during military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and PTSD due to outstanding medical records from the Denver VA Medical Center.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective dates ranging from July 15, 2014. The conditions are secondary to his service-connected bilateral feet disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, but needs further evidence from a VA audiologist.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted effective October 22, 2015. The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The decision on bilateral hearing loss remains pending and remanded.