Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his audiometric tests did not show a level of hearing impairment that would warrant such a rating.

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

The Board denied service connection for Graves' disease due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The case was remanded for further development regarding bilateral hearing loss, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.,The Board also found that there is no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service connected as it has been shown to be related to his period of active duty.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus and hypertension are service-connected due to exposure to herbicides during active service. However, the remaining claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, bladder cancer, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is due to his military noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for amputation of the left index finger, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding aggravation by service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been rated as Level I, corresponding to no worse than auditory acuity Level I. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a compensable rating for his left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure and granting a full grant of his claim.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, and tinnitus. The claims are granted as the evidence now shows that these conditions were likely incurred during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted, while her claims for right ankle disability, neuro rhinitis, sinusitis, and COPD are denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to potential discrepancies in medical records.

The Veteran's claims for neck pain, chest pain with breathing difficulty, sleep apnea, and bilateral knee disorder have been granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus was granted effective June 26, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus is granted. The claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded as the VA examiner has not provided an opinion on their etiology.

The Veteran's hearing loss was found to be at Level I in both ears, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation standards. The Board considered additional evidence and testimonies but did not find them sufficient to warrant an increase in the current rating.

The Veteran's PTSD, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted service connection with effective dates of July 30, 2016, and September 25, 2013 respectively.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), sleep disorder (obstructive sleep apnea), bilateral hearing loss, and epilepsy due to potential service connection issues.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for left and right foot disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss, are remanded for further development.