Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's initial ratings for service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted, but the rating for tinnitus is at its maximum. The claim for an increased rating for tinnitus has been denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable schedular criteria. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to concerns about the adequacy of the November 2017 VA audiology examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent and credible statements regarding his experiences with these conditions during and after service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's wife's statement regarding his hearing loss affecting his daily life, and the need for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder disabilities, bilateral knee disabilities, loss of vision, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction due to service connection. The issues are related to whether these conditions began during or were caused by periods of active military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma was denied as new and material evidence has not been received. The Board also remanded the issues regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Board has found that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete medical evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and clarification of the Veteran's work history, particularly since 2010. The hearing loss case will also require a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was reopened due to new and material evidence, and the Board has now granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and has also granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. The issues of service connection for these conditions are now resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD was denied, and the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and individual unemployability were remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for shrapnel wound residuals, skin disability (including as due to herbicide exposure in service), and peripheral artery disease (including as due to herbicide exposure in service).

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence showing the condition was caused by or related to military service.,The Board also denied service connection for sleep apnea, concluding that there was not clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing sleep apnea prior to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is not enough evidence to support a link between his in-service noise exposure and his current hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed all appeals for service connection, except for the claim of an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder). The Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are associated with his active duty service in Korea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence to support these claims based on lack of current disabilities or medical records indicating such conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is found to have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, which he contends began during his military service. Given the continuity of symptoms since service and credible reports from the Veteran regarding noise exposure in service, the Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral ankle disability are all granted. The decision specifically addresses the bilateral hearing loss claim, finding that it is related to active service. For the bilateral hip and ankle disabilities, the Board determined there was no nexus between these conditions and either active service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes and the Board finds that his bilateral hearing loss is not related to service.