Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service, thus granting their claims for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss may be related to his military service, but needs further examination and evidence before a final decision can be made.

The Board finds that the January 2015 VA examination is inadequate and remands for an additional VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred in active service or is otherwise causally related.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 60 percent, but no higher, based on audiometric evaluations that correspond to Level IX hearing loss in both ears.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered to have started during service and has persisted since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, the lowest possible rating under VA criteria. The Board found no evidence of worsening since a June 2017 examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and stomach disability due to incomplete examination reports and lack of valid audiometric test results.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is causally related to his service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to this condition and that his current hearing loss cannot be presumed to have incurred in service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran did not have evidence of an in-service injury, illness or event related to hearing loss.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's PTSD and hearing loss require regular aid and attendance, meeting the criteria for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) due to the need for Aid and Attendance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus because no new evidence was received that would establish a link between these conditions and his active military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus together preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted since April 29, 2005.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding his service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea. The TDIU claim remains pending.