Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for left hip disability and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran experienced symptoms of these conditions since separation from service.

The Board denied service connection for periodontal disease, right ear hearing loss, and granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's gum recession was not a compensable dental disability due to lack of evidence of trauma or disease-related bone loss. Service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure leading to current hearing loss within one year post-discharge. Service connection for left ear hearing loss was granted based on the Veteran's report and a VA audiologist's opinion linking his hearing loss to service.

The Veteran's initial 10% evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is granted, but his claim for service connection of a respiratory/pulmonary disorder remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss of the right ear and left eye disability (including dry eye syndrome and myopia) are still under appeal. The VA examinations performed were not sufficient to assess the current level of severity for these conditions, thus a remand is required.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss. The case will be returned for a new audiogram and an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of a nexus opinion.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the lack of a current disability meeting VA criteria. Service connection for bilateral tinnitus was granted based on credible evidence of its onset during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service. The evidence shows that he was exposed to noise during training exercises and while operating a radio in various vehicles.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for cardiac arrhythmia, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, and traumatic brain injury due to potential errors in the previous VA examinations.

The Board has restored service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not clearly and unmistakably demonstrate that these conditions were not related to service.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during service and granted service connection.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it began in or was related to service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, bilateral pes planus, degenerative arthritis with instability of the left knee, and degenerative arthritis with instability of the right knee are all granted service connection. The Veteran's tinnitus is also granted service connection.,However, chronic fatigue syndrome, right ear hearing loss, a right ankle disorder, and a left ankle disorder remain pending for further review.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 18, 2012 for a TDIU rating due to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim was filed within one year of the October 2013 rating decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and has remanded the issue of an initial compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and cardiovascular residuals of shrapnel to the heart have been remanded due to incomplete development. The Board found that there is no evidence of service connection for kidney disease, hypertension, or lung disability, nor was there any indication of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating, and the persuasive evidence of record is against a finding that his service-connected disabilities were of such nature and severity as to preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran is also seeking secondary service connection for his acquired psychiatric disorder related to his service-connected lung cancer.