Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to an additional opinion being needed.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The effective date of the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is July 15, 2017.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for prostate cancer, hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and a neurocognitive disorder with behavioral disturbance and memory issues. The claims are being reviewed due to the need for additional development of records.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50%, migraine headaches are rated at 50%, and lumbosacral DDD, right knee cyst removal, right ear tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss are all rated at 10%. The combined rating for these conditions results in an 80% disability rating. The Veteran's appeal is denied as his PTSD does not warrant a higher than 50% rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that prior to June 20, 2014, there was no evidence showing he was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, DIC benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1318, and DIC benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of hearing loss during service or within one year after separation, and the medical records do not show a continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active duty service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be at least as likely as not incurred during or caused by his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision is based on the evidence being in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, while his bilateral hearing loss is not.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, increased rating for right wrist strain, and initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and has been granted as service connected.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and its relation to his military service.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and the cause of death (end stage renal disease) is not presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board denied entitlement to DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 and denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, left inner ear disorder, right inner ear disorder, tinea pedis with onychomycosis of the feet, and bilateral hearing loss.,There is no current evidence of any diagnosed conditions related to these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or link to service. The Veteran had multiple ear issues during service but normal hearing at separation and no permanent positive threshold shifts.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient explanations regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and its relation to service. The examiner is requested to provide a detailed opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss had its onset in service or is otherwise related to his active service, including noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination and incomplete factual premises. The Veteran needs a new VA audiological examination to address the probable etiology of his diagnosed bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.