Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and migraine headaches associated with multiple sclerosis.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a groin disability is granted. The Board finds that the evidence received since the last final denial relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. However, further development is required due to outstanding VA treatment records and additional examination is needed.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for bilateral hip disability, shoulder and elbow disabilities, low back disability, neck disability with upper right extremity neuropathy, spine disability with joint degeneration, hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, staph infection, carpal tunnel syndrome, and sleep apnea. The remand also includes a request to obtain Social Security Administration records and an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,Tinnitus has been denied for an earlier effective date prior to June 25, 2012, and a rating in excess of 10 percent remains denied.,Service connection for bilateral lower extremity disability (including arthritis), bilateral shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and lower back disability is remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.

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

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a worsening of his symptoms within one year prior to June 7, 2016, and thus no earlier effective date is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 29, 2008 for the award of a 100 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The criteria for special monthly compensation based on deafness in both ears and housebound status are also not met prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, and thus denied the claims for service connection. The evidence does not establish a nexus between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding it at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service. However, the Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to June 1, 2016.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The claim for thoracolumbar spine disorder is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issue of service connection for hearing loss disability is remanded due to the need for an opinion regarding its relationship to tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered a chronic disease under VA regulations and the Board finds sufficient evidence to support that he experienced symptoms from active duty onwards, granting service connection for his bilateral hearing loss.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, low back disability, and other conditions, are sufficient to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder status post rotator cuff and cartilage repair with osteoarthritis has also been denied due to the lack of evidence showing limitation of motion at or below the shoulder level.

The Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as his audiometric tests do not show he is entitled to such a rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 13, 2011, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him incapable of performing employment duties.

The appeal to reopen a service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Veteran's statements as to his hearing problems upon service discharge and continuing after service are presumed credible, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is of service origin and grants service connection for this condition.