Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and an addendum opinion. The current evidence does not establish whether his hearing loss began during service or is related to exposure to excessive noise during active duty.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for thyroid condition, DM, congestive heart failure, and HTN are denied due to lack of in-service exposure or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing acuity has been consistently at Level I, which corresponds to a 0 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment for the periods specified, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for tinnitus, but has remanded his hearing loss disability claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, requiring a new one with proper consideration of continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's service is not considered active duty during any period of war, thus denying eligibility for VA nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the left and right ankles, as well as Tinnitus and Right ear hearing loss. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to missing records and additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service treatment records from October 2011 to May 2012. The RO is instructed to seek these records and notify the Veteran if they are unavailable.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been assigned a noncompensable rating, as his impairment levels do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim is therefore denied.

The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disorder is dismissed. The appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete examination opinions regarding the Veteran's left ear disability, including hearing loss and otitis. The examiner must provide a complete opinion addressing whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's right ear did not meet VA criteria for a disability due to hearing impairment. The left ear was found to have no evidence of etiological link to military noise exposure.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on the Veteran's report of ringing in his ears beginning during service and continuing since then.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no current disability as defined by VA and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current hearing loss and military service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, as well as whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was reduced to noncompensable, but the Board has granted restoration of a 20 percent rating effective from May 30, 2018.