Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent from March 12, 2014 to September 24, 2015 and at 20 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by Level I hearing acuity in both ears, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable (zero percent) since September 2014. The RO denied an increased rating for this condition.,The Veteran's OSA with bronchitis was initially rated at 50 percent effective November 24, 2015. The RO denied a higher rating in excess of 50 percent.,Prior to November 24, 2015, the Veteran's bronchitis was rated as noncompensable (zero percent). The RO denied an increased rating for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining issues were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected chronic sinusitis. However, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to May 2, 2019 and over 40 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The right ear hearing loss claim is granted, but the lower back disability and left ear hearing loss claims are sent back for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of the Veteran's back disability and right ear hearing loss for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling appropriate examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and neuropathy of the left lower extremity. The conditions are related to military service exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination, consideration of an extraschedular evaluation, and obtaining updated VA records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence linking his current hearing loss to military service, including exposure to noise.

The Veteran's claim for an increase in his disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for PTSD and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment did not manifest during or within a presumptive period after service and was not related to in-service noise exposure. The evidence showed that his hearing issues were more likely due to non-service-related middle ear pathology.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus require the need for aid and assistance due to his inability to manage daily activities such as medication management and protection from environmental hazards.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and unspecified depressive disorder. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, and the issue is no longer on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The decision on tinnitus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as it was already granted in a previous rating decision. The claim for service connection for a low back disability is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss requires clarification from the private examiner who conducted the audiometric testing. The decision is remanded to obtain further information.