Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus TDIU benefits are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and coronary atherosclerosis, as well as for TDIU prior to March 11, 2010.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU rating from November 1, 2016 due to his service-connected disabilities. Prior to that date, the criteria for a TDIU were not met.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA audiological examinations. The Veteran's claims will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is partially remanded due to the need for additional development of records and examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded his claim for a higher rating for right ankle strain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 31, 2016 and a rating in excess of 10 percent on or after October 31, 2016 was denied. The Board found the evidence insufficient to grant these claims and remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 60 percent for the initial rating period from October 20, 2015 to March 1, 2016. For the initial rating period from March 1, 2016 forward, a higher initial disability rating of 80 percent is granted.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as new and material evidence has been submitted. However, the claim remains denied because there is no evidence that the current condition had its onset during active service or within one year of discharge.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be at Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board determined that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss due to a lack of adequate medical opinion and further development is needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bursitis and tendonitis, right shoulder was reopened due to new evidence. The claim is granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back problems and bilateral hearing loss disability were not reopened as the submitted evidence was cumulative.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability. The appeal regarding the denial of service connection for hearing loss was dismissed due to no clear and unmistakable error in the 2003 rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for left ear hearing loss as new and material evidence was not received, despite the Veteran having reported noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service-connected. The issues of initial compensable evaluation for prostate cancer residuals and service connection for tingling in both hands and arms are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for xeroderma was reopened due to new evidence. His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities were denied as there is no credible evidence linking them to his military service.

The Board has expanded the scope of the Veteran’s claims to encompass any knee or heart diagnosis raised by the record. The case is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current diagnoses and service.