Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board has also remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, as well as the increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and service. The Board considered the Veteran's lay reports of noise exposure in service but found them outweighed by the opinions of VA examiners who concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss is less likely related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects the severity and symptomatology of his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has not shown to warrant a higher initial rating than 10 percent, as the audiometric test results have consistently indicated levels of hearing impairment that are compatible with this rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of TBI is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the evidence does not support a finding that any current symptoms are related to an in-service injury.,Service connection for sleep apnea is also denied. The Board found that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is not related to his in-service car accident or head injury, and the weight of medical literature does not support a relationship between TBI and obstructive sleep apnea.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as VA did not obtain an adequate opinion regarding whether pre-existing hearing loss increased during service. The Veteran also has tinnitus which was not addressed in the decision, so this issue is also remanded.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied due to a lack of medical evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, and the Board dismissed the claim as a result.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no credible medical or lay evidence showing a diagnosis of these conditions during the pendency of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to service. The decision on these issues is pending.

The Veteran's GAD is granted as service connection due to the positive nexus opinion and inadequate negative nexus opinion.,Service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction has been granted. The claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetes mellitus, service connection for bilateral toe fungus, hepatitis, removal of kidney, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of data for the Veteran's hearing at 3000 Hertz, which could affect the determination of whether his bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and requests for additional examinations. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but his right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis are found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for financial assistance due to service-connected disabilities resulting in loss or use of feet is being remanded for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to July 31, 2019.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence supported only noncompensable ratings based on Level I and II hearing acuity in both ears.

The Veteran's combined effects of his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, vertigo associated with tinnitus, and tinnitus associated with bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined effect of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the issues of service connection for tinnitus, right and left ear hearing loss, headaches, a right eye disorder, a right knee disorder, and a right shoulder disorder. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability of hearing loss that meets VA compensation criteria.