Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the left ankle disability. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there was no evidence of hearing loss during service or thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and were not noted in service with attributable continuity of symptomatology. The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus began decades after his active military service and have not been attributed to his service.,The Veteran was diagnosed with dementia by the VA Medical Center in November 2020, which is prior to his death. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether the dementia at least as likely as not (i.e., the likelihood is at least approximately balanced or nearly equal, if not higher) related to service, including the Veteran's in-service diagnosis and treatment for a sexually transmitted disease in December 1956.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 100 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, effective December 1, 2013. The reduction in the disability rating was improper due to a failure to follow proper procedural requirements.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal of his service connection claims for hearing loss and kidney disease, resulting in their dismissal.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed TBI disability, as well as a VA audiological examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for hearing loss due to missing audiological examination results and scheduling issues. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not have its onset during or be related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a lumbar spine disability, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was no greater than Level I for both the right and left ear, resulting in a denial of an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability or in-service incurrence. Service connection is also denied for residuals of TBI, speech disorder, learning disorder, and balance problems due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a heart condition and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood it was caused by in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for tinnitus is also granted as secondary to his now service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The VA examiner opined that tinnitus is a known symptom of hearing loss.,The Veteran's initial rating for CAD remains at 10 percent, with the Board noting that there is no evidence of left ventricular dysfunction or cardiac hypertrophy/dilatation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no new and material evidence to reopen the cases, and his conditions were not found to be related to military service.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that he did not cooperate with VA examinations and there was no evidence of language or cognitive difficulties.

The Board has granted reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea, but denied both claims on their merits.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis. The Veteran's appeal regarding the other issues is remanded due to additional evidentiary development being required.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable, and the claim for an initial compensable rating is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.