Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and dizziness, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of continuity of symptoms or evidence linking his current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and his TDIU claim have both been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted a TDIU for the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) effective December 22, 2014. The decision is based on the severity of CAD alone and the Veteran's inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, residuals of spleen rupture, left carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), disability of the right thumb and wrist, skin disorder of the face and scalp, deformed toes, and a service-connected skin lesion of the plantar aspect of the left foot. The decision found that current evidence did not support these claims.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus between current disabilities and active duty service.,There was no chronic or continuous symptoms of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and the Veteran's complaints were first noted many years after separation.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of traumatic brain injury, and insomnia.,Service connection was not granted as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of functional impairment related to the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder), OSA, migraine headaches, and left knee pain are all granted service connection.,Service connection for right shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, right leg restless leg syndrome, left leg restless leg syndrome, cervical spine osteoarthritis, and left arm radiculopathy is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was denied due to lack of a timely notice of disagreement. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU prior to December 22, 2010, but the evidence is in equipoise as to whether he has been unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since then.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and ischemic heart disease/coronary artery disease were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 10 percent from April 23, 2016 to September 15, 2016 and at 30 percent thereafter. The Board denied an increased rating for the period prior to April 23, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 60 percent from May 9, 2014. The Board found that a higher rating was warranted based on the most recent VA audiological examination conducted in March 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and additional development is needed, including obtaining VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and migraine headaches, prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of February 24, 2012. An effective date of February 24, 2012 is granted for the grant of TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for left ankle and foot disability and left hip disability.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for an addendum opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to service, specifically in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus and prostate cancer are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service and insufficient medical basis to attribute current hearing loss to military noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to concerns about the reliability of a whisper test at separation from service. The Veteran was exposed to loud noise during service, but his hearing was normal on separation screening.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as Level II in the right ear and Level I in the left ear, resulting in a non-compensable rating. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation under the applicable criteria.