Hearing loss decisions — 2021

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss disability as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss as there was no evidence of chronic hearing loss in service or within the applicable presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology is not established. The Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is attributed to noise exposure during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss has been reopened and is granted.,The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been reopened and is granted.,The Veteran's claim for a left arm disability, to include a left elbow disability, has been reopened and is granted.,The Veteran's claim for TBI has been reopened and is granted.,The Veteran's claim for sleep disorder has been reopened and is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a left leg condition, as secondary to his service-connected post-operative rupture of the right achilles tendon. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Service connections for kidney cancer, prostate cancer, and bladder cancer are remanded due to lack of clear exposure basis.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the audiometric test results do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left ear hearing loss and vertigo secondary to left ear hearing loss due to insufficient examination opinions addressing the Veteran's contentions regarding the onset of his symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his unemployability was due to nonservice-connected disabilities such as COPD, obesity, and bilateral knee disabilities, rather than service-connected CAD.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board found no evidence to warrant a higher rating based on his audiometric test results.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA examiner's opinion on the etiology of his hearing loss was inadequate.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for glaucoma due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his in-service exposure to loud noises during his Vietnam service.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 40 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no actual change in his disability since the reduction to zero percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to inextricably intertwined issues, including whether the overpayment debt was properly created and the issue of entitlement to a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA compensation benefits.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to service and has been diagnosed as a current disability. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding the presence of current disabilities. The Veteran's exposure to noise in service is established, but further examination and opinion are needed to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine strain, and cervical spine strain. The most probative medical evidence did not link these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible statements regarding the onset of his symptoms during service.