Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent) under the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The Board found that his hearing acuity did not meet criteria for a compensable rating based on audiometric testing results.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability may have existed prior to his service and is seeking clarification on whether it was aggravated by service. The claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied. The left ear hearing loss claim is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if it was aggravated by service or preexisted service. The tinnitus claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the left ear hearing loss claim.

The Board denied a higher initial disability rating for the service-connected left ear sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, a psychiatric disorder (anxiety), sarcoidosis, squamous cell carcinoma (cancer of the head and neck), residuals of a tonsillectomy, scar status post thoracotomy, right ear hearing loss, and right shoulder disability due to in-service exposure to acoustic trauma. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's migraine headaches are causally related to service, including his time at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss because the new evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The reduction of the rating for bilateral hearing loss from 40% to 0% was not proper, and the 40% rating is restored.,The reduction of the rating for right knee instability from 10% to 0% was not proper, and the 10% rating is restored.,The reduction of the rating for painful left calf scar from 10% to 0% was not proper.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to service, specifically his first period of active duty from February 1976 to February 1979. The decision does not address any other conditions or issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and as secondary to service-connected disabilities, and for a compensable disability rating for early bilateral eye cataracts. Additional VA medical opinions are needed regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current diagnoses.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there was no evidence of a hearing disability during or within one year after service, and the VA examiner found that his current hearing loss is less likely related to service. ,The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted as he has established a current disability (tinnitus) and noise exposure in service, but the VA examiner found it less likely than not associated with service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as the issue of an effective date earlier than November 26, 2012, for service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's claims are currently under review.

The Veteran's initial rating for tinnitus is denied as it is already at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines. The issues of hearing loss, dizziness/nausea/headaches secondary to tinnitus and/or hearing loss are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss can be adjudicated.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he can perform the tasks required in sedentary employment with reasonable accommodations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and knee/hip conditions, prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and renal insufficiency is being remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of current disability.