Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and pes planus, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions during or prior to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The claim for an increased rating for anxiety disorder has also been denied.

The appeal was dismissed because the Veteran's Substantive Appeal, which was received on August 25, 2016, was untimely filed. The deadline for filing a substantive appeal is within 60 days from the date of mailing the Statement of the Case or within one year from the date of the rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment, specially adapted housing, or a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate November 2012 VA examination, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss began in service or after service as a result of conceded in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence indicating worsening of his condition and the need for additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service due to noise exposure. However, the VA examiner's opinion was inadequate and another examination must be conducted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for tinnitus. Bilateral hearing loss is considered a disability under VA criteria, with an increase in hearing loss during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing medical records and unclear nature of his current conditions. The claims will be reviewed again with new examinations and opinions.

The Veteran is granted a 70 percent rating for service-connected PTSD, effective June 9, 2014. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for tinnitus and PTSD are also set at June 9, 2014.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss, loss of sense of smell, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 4, 2017 was denied.,From December 4, 2017 onwards, the Veteran's increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of back pain and bilateral hearing loss for further examination and evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as there was no evidence of current hearing loss disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss may be related to his active service, but needs further examination and opinion to determine this. The case is therefore being remanded for additional review.

The Veteran's hearing loss is granted as service connected. The remaining issues of service connection for psychiatric disorders, asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, and bilateral foot disabilities are remanded due to lack of a nexus opinion.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea are all found to be related to service. High cholesterol is not a disability for VA purposes. The acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD), including unspecified depressive disorder and bipolar affective disorder, is also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 0 percent and the Board has decided to remand this case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and specific phobia.