Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is remanded and will be reconsidered after additional development.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, right elbow and ear surgical scars, bilateral inner ear scars, bilateral hearing loss, left-hand ring finger disorder, left thigh disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, low back disorder, and left foot disorder have all been granted based on service connection being presumed due to in-service noise exposure, surgeries, and continuous symptoms since separation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss as a direct result of in-service noise exposure, and the Veteran's continuous symptoms since separation from service. The claim is now reopened.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic bronchitis as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were related to active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and ear conditions, including a perforated ear drum and hemorrhagic cyst.

The Board dismissed the appeals of service connection claims for heart disorder, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and sepsis. The right knee disability, COPD, and bilateral hearing loss were granted as incurred in active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran was granted a temporary total evaluation for convalescence after his cervical spine surgery, but this has since expired. The Board finds that more than 2 months of convalescence were not required and thus denies the extension of the temporary total rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran’s claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and bilateral knee tendonitis. The Veteran's July 2013 VA audiological examination was not adequate, and a new VA audiological examination will be scheduled on remand.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to a service-connected psychiatric disability, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and the request for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus.,No effective date was assigned for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, left ring finger disability, and pseudofolliculitis barbae are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.,No new evidence has been submitted to reopen service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically whether PTSD is related to his combat experience in Vietnam. Additionally, updated treatment records are needed, and an examination is required to assess the nature and etiology of hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, while right ear hearing loss is not. The bilateral eye disorders have been rated as a combined 30 percent since February 28, 2009.

The Board has remanded both claims for additional development and consideration.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be incurred in and caused by his military service, with the Board resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on continuous symptoms since service separation, which meets the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's condition did not warrant higher ratings based on his audiometric test results.

The Board dismissed the appeals for hearing loss and IBS with GERD. The claim of service connection for fibromyalgia was reopened due to new evidence, and it is now granted. Service connection for hemorrhoids is also granted.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee and low back disabilities, finding no evidence of a nexus to service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further examination.