Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to loud noise in Vietnam, which likely caused his current conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to his period of active duty and subsequent training.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level II prior to January 28, 2021 and Level IV from that date onwards. The appeal for increased ratings is denied.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were granted with an effective date of October 25, 2018. The Board found that no earlier effective dates are warranted.,For the initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran's claims have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale for a VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has ordered the VA to provide audiometry testing results from March 2016 and May 2016 audiology consultations at the Hampton VAMC, as these records were not previously associated with the file. The matter is being returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his military service and did not manifest within one year of separation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for further evaluation due to incomplete history and the need for a new medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his military service, specifically noise exposure. The examiner needs to provide a new opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back condition and a right shoulder condition due to lack of medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, has been remanded due to new evidence received since the November 2002 rating decision.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea secondary to his acquired psychiatric disability, a sinus disability, and vision loss have also been remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The case is being remanded to address service connection claims for traumatic injuries of the right and left hands.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has worsened, but the evidence does not comply with the requirements for rating purposes. The case is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination and determine the current severity of his hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examinations, lack of evidence of a clinically significant threshold shift between enlistment and separation, and insufficient reasoning provided by the July 2017 VA examiner.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable (0%) throughout the appeal period, with an average pure tone threshold of 44 decibels in the right ear and 34 decibels in the left ear. The Board found no evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral, left ear, and right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or a link between in-service noise exposure and his hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is due to noise exposure during his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to his military service or a service-connected disability. The claim for TDIU was granted, and the issue of rating in excess of 60 percent for asbestosis is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and denied a temporary total rating for esophagogastrectomy convalescence period. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure leading to current right ear hearing loss.