Hearing loss Board decisions

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the cause of death and service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a sinus condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, right and left shoulder disabilities, low back disability, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The appeals are pending further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU due to outstanding audiometric evaluations that were not associated with the claims file. The AOJ needs to clarify the type of word list used in March 2016, June 2016, and January 2018 audiometric evaluations and convert the graphical results into numerical data.

The Board has granted the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, obstructive sleep apnea, tinnitus, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU effective November 27, 2018.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since September 5, 2017. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his hearing impairment.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and multiple sclerosis due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are being reviewed again with a focus on obtaining proper medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability meets the criteria for a 10 percent disability rating, and the Board has granted this rating based on the evidence showing an improvement in his condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has increased in severity since his last VA examination, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as he does not have a current disability of right ear hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss, colon disability, and bowel disability. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of remand. The Board also granted a TDIU from February 1, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran had noise exposure during service, which is sufficient to establish a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, a left shoulder disability, and prostate cancer due to the NOD being untimely.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of right-ear hearing loss disability has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when combined, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since January 1, 2016.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, right knee joint osteoarthritis, left knee joint osteoarthritis, right hip joint osteoarthritis, and left hip joint osteoarthritis have all been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine are not supported by competent medical evidence linking his current disabilities to service, including exposure to herbicide agents.