Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's initial claim for bilateral hearing loss was received on February 29, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support an earlier effective date and denied a higher rating prior to October 9, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and left eye macula condition are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart condition is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus and left carpal tunnel syndrome are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disorder to include as secondary to a left ankle disorder.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for low back, left knee, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus, increased rating for tinnitus, and initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete development. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus may be related to in-service noise exposure, but further examination is needed to determine this.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for back disorder and right ear hearing loss, as well as the initial rating claim for left ear hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran is also requested to provide records from John Heinz Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine and undergo a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder disability, but has remanded his claims for right shoulder, left knee, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as non-compensably disabling throughout the appeal period, with a final determination of denial for an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bladder and prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, have prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's SMC claim for loss of use of a creative organ is granted. The Board has taken jurisdiction over the hearing loss issue due to its discussion during the February 2018 hearing. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities secondary to diabetes mellitus are remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that there is not enough evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied the appellant's request for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss and also denied his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for the hearing loss, as it was rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA guidelines. For TDIU, the Board determined that the appellant's combined disability ratings were sufficient to meet the criteria but concluded he could still maintain substantially gainful employment due to his work history and current physical condition.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but the issues regarding left and right ankle disabilities and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected, with no effective date provided.

Your appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The appeal for residuals of a bilateral eye infection is dismissed.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his service in the Air Force National Guard, specifically while working on the flight line. As such, the appeal for service connection is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. A new opinion is needed from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are granted as service connected, with the decision favoring the Veteran due to reasonable doubt.