Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, CAD, and hearing loss, have resulted in unemployability. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the severity of these conditions.

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

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate opinions in previous VA medical evaluations. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further evaluation with new, adequate opinions regarding the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability found, and thus the first prong of the Shedden test has not been met.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to a new theory of entitlement raised by the Veteran, contending that his sleep apnea is proximately due to obesity caused by his service-connected disabilities. The VA failed to receive any examinations or opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and failed to determine whether any of these conditions led to the Veteran's obesity which caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated and found to correspond to no greater than Level II hearing loss in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board denied the claim for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records, audiogram results, and further development of the evidence.

The Board has decided the case must be remanded again due to inadequate opinion in a previous VA examination. The Veteran's hearing loss is related to service, but there are questions about when it developed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability resulted with hearing loss, at worse, in findings no greater than Roman Numeral X (right) and XI (left) from October 5, 2015, through September 27, 2017. Beginning September 27, 2017, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability resulted with hearing loss in findings of Roman Numeral XI (right) and XI (left).

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and various diagnosed psychiatric disability for further development due to insufficient opinions in the June 2018 remand.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 40 percent from October 6, 2021. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date has been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and traumatic brain injury with any residuals, including headaches. The disabilities are found to be due to military noise exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bipolar disorder. The Veteran's hearing loss is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to acoustic trauma during training exercises and working around helicopters. His tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service as he reported experiencing ringing in his ears during service. His bipolar disorder is linked to a simulated helicopter crash incident during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they are not related to his in-service noise exposure, despite his assertions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and the need for a new opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The issues include cardiac disability, bilateral hearing loss, neurological disabilities of both upper extremities, right knee disability, PTSD, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy.