Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that an adequate opinion is required to determine if the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder was a principal or contributory cause of death. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 remains denied as there is no legal basis for entitlement.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, and the Board denied these claims.

The Board has determined that further medical evaluation and opinion are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including back disability, bilateral hearing loss, respiratory condition (COPD), and migraine headaches. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for intestinal disorder, basal cell carcinoma, right middle finger injury, irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been reopened. Service connection is granted for the right middle finger injury and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral otitis media were evaluated. The cervical spine disorder was denied service connection due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. Bilateral hearing loss did not meet criteria for a compensable rating. Bilateral otitis media received the maximum schedular rating. For lumbar spine disability prior to July 8, 2015, a 40% rating was granted; since then, no higher rating is warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a typographical error in the description of the claims on appeal and because the Veteran identified relevant outstanding private treatment records. The VA will request these records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for sensorineural hearing loss of the right ear, finding that it was incurred in service due to significant noise exposure during military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the effective dates are set at September 13, 2001. The Board has also remanded his cases for further development and examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant died before a decision could be made on his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and assignment of a compensable disability rating for right foot hallux valgus.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support an increase in disability ratings beyond the current 10 percent assigned since May 15, 2015.

The Veteran's back disability is granted a 40% rating, effective August 9, 2016. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 5, 2017 was denied. From September 5, 2017 onwards, the Veteran is rated at 30 percent for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions and the cause of death due to potential outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines are now rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent effective May 10, 2014.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing these conditions began during active duty or were related to military noise exposure.

The Board has denied a higher disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of left-wrist, cervical-spine, low-back, and left-knee disorders due to insufficient evidence in the record.